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10 May, 2000Participants underline the importance of increased trade union cooperation and coordination at the international level.
GENEVA/USA: Following a three-day intensive and wide-ranging debate on the current situation in the world steel industry and its future prospects, the 155 delegates who participated in the IMF World Steel Conference, in the USA in April, have finalised and adopted a "Washington Declaration".
The conference provided the opportunity to focus on such issues as steel trade, globalisation and the increasing concentration of ownership, restructuring, working conditions and working time, as well as health and safety, dangers arising from exposure to radioactive contaminated steel scrap and the wider environmental aspects. Repercussions of technological change on employment and working methods and future prospects for steelworkers in both the developing and industrialised countries were also on the agenda.
The conference underlined the importance of increased trade union cooperation and coordination at the international level, a central feature of the IMF's Action Programme.
Sub-headings of the Declaration concern world trade, new technologies, upward harmonisation of health and safety provisions, privatisation, social provisions for restructuring, environmental responsibility, international trade union solidarity and trade union rights.
The example of international trade union cooperation and solidarity provided by the conference will become increasingly important as the steel industry develops an even more global dimension in the future.
The Washington Declaration - in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian - can be downloaded on the IMF website under "Publications".
The conference provided the opportunity to focus on such issues as steel trade, globalisation and the increasing concentration of ownership, restructuring, working conditions and working time, as well as health and safety, dangers arising from exposure to radioactive contaminated steel scrap and the wider environmental aspects. Repercussions of technological change on employment and working methods and future prospects for steelworkers in both the developing and industrialised countries were also on the agenda.
The conference underlined the importance of increased trade union cooperation and coordination at the international level, a central feature of the IMF's Action Programme.
Sub-headings of the Declaration concern world trade, new technologies, upward harmonisation of health and safety provisions, privatisation, social provisions for restructuring, environmental responsibility, international trade union solidarity and trade union rights.
The example of international trade union cooperation and solidarity provided by the conference will become increasingly important as the steel industry develops an even more global dimension in the future.
The Washington Declaration - in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian - can be downloaded on the IMF website under "Publications".