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11 April, 2000Trade union leaders address delegates at the IMF's world steel industry gathering.
USA/GLOBAL: In the over 100-year history of the International Metalworkers' Federation, iron and steel workers have always been among the most innovative and in the forefront of those ready to meet whatever challenges are put in their path. Speaking at the IMF's first world steel meeting in the new millennium, taking place this week in Washington D.C., the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, said that although change had been hard on the steel industry and its workers, "the need for steel is as great as it ever was, if not greater." The iron and steel industry was as much a part of the thrust to globalisation, commented Malentacchi, as any other high-tech, competitive branch of human activity. "We have seen multinationals diversifying into steel, and multinational steel companies diversifying into other sectors, so-called mini-mills producing annually more than two million metric tons, new production methods as well as, sadly, trading difficulties and over-capacity."
Also addressing delegates at the conference, George Becker, international president of the United Steelworkers of America, declared that World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (Fund) policies based on a free-trade philosophy "subjugates developing countries, especially those in crises, to the reckless greed of Wall Street investors." The labour flexibility insisted upon in the Fund's structural adjustment policies was a "strategy of driving down the cost of wages worldwide ... Instead of punishing speculators, the Fund punishes workers in its drive to make sure the banks are all bailed out," even if investments had been reckless. He demanded reforms of the WB and Fund. Becker also took the opportunity to state his union's opposition to the U.S. Congress giving Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China and urged support for the AFL-CIO's debt relief initiative for developing nations.
Other issues on the meeting agenda, such as trade union strategy to meet the challenge of globalisation of the steel industry, core labour standards in international trade agreements, obstacles to trade union rights, and occupational health and safety are being discussed by steel industry trade unionists from all over the world at the IMF conference.
Also addressing delegates at the conference, George Becker, international president of the United Steelworkers of America, declared that World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (Fund) policies based on a free-trade philosophy "subjugates developing countries, especially those in crises, to the reckless greed of Wall Street investors." The labour flexibility insisted upon in the Fund's structural adjustment policies was a "strategy of driving down the cost of wages worldwide ... Instead of punishing speculators, the Fund punishes workers in its drive to make sure the banks are all bailed out," even if investments had been reckless. He demanded reforms of the WB and Fund. Becker also took the opportunity to state his union's opposition to the U.S. Congress giving Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China and urged support for the AFL-CIO's debt relief initiative for developing nations.
Other issues on the meeting agenda, such as trade union strategy to meet the challenge of globalisation of the steel industry, core labour standards in international trade agreements, obstacles to trade union rights, and occupational health and safety are being discussed by steel industry trade unionists from all over the world at the IMF conference.