6 May, 2011Joint IMF-ICEM-ITGLWF task force agrees on a proposal for the financial base of a new global union federation for the world's industrial workers.
GERMANY: 37 delegates representing the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) met on May 5 in Frankfurt. This was the fourth meeting of a joint task force set up by the decision-making bodies of the three global union federations.
Task force members confirmed their support for the unifying process of workers in the extractive and manufacturing industries, which would create a powerful counterpart to transnational corporations and for defending trade union rights and organizing unorganized workers throughout supply chains into strong and self-reliant unions. The unions want to fight forcefully for good quality industrial jobs and against precarious forms of employment.
The task force agreed on a proposal for an affiliation fee system for a new global union federation, which would unite 50 million industrial workers in more than 130 countries.
Progress was also made on the draft statutes for the new organization. The framework for regional and sectoral activities was almost finalized. Further discussions will be held on the size and role of decision-making bodies and the gender balance.
The proposals from the task force will be presented to IMF's Executive Committee on May 25-26 in Geneva, and to a joint meeting of the Executive Committees of the three global union federations on May 25.
The process will also be discussed at IMF's regional conferences this year. If an acceptable result in the talks is achieved, IMF's Central Committee on December 7-8 may decide to convene an extraordinary Congress in 2012. Similar decisions are expected from ICEM's and ITGLWF's decision-making bodies.