14 June, 2007Issue focuses on Zimbabwean workers and building sustainable unions in Africa.
GENEVA: This issue of Metal World turns our attention to Africa where Zimbabwean metalworkers working full-time, live on the streets unable to afford transportation home.
In the days leading up to a national stay away on April 3 and 4, IMF staff moved underground in Zimbabwe interviewing workers and union leadership who were willing to risk their lives for a living wage. This issue's feature is dedicated to those brave unionists, and provides a first hand account of the shocking daily life of metalworkers teetering on the brink of survival.
Metal World's Special Report takes a closer look at the IMF's work on building sustainable unions in Africa and addresses the serious challenges facing these unions. The report argues that sector unions do not have a future in Africa, but rather "workers, their unions and the IMF must focus our resources and efforts into building self-sustainable unions that are not dependant on outside sources of funding and are better able to demand changes that will result in the sustainable development of the region."
This issue's news covers Mexico's partial victory, the first Boeing World Conference, GM-Europe's day of action, Turkey's bloody May Day, and much more.
The magazine will soon be getting a new look. Please participate in the IMF Metal World survey at www.imfmetal.org.
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