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27 September, 2000After a two-day debate, the 10th IMF World Auto Council has adopted a new programme to increase the trade unions' strength.
GERMANY: The IMF World Auto Council, which met in Wolfsburg, Germany, on September 26-27, took place against a background of continuing rapid changes in the automotive industry. The current wave of mergers, alliances and acquisitions is simply the latest phase of a process which began decades ago and which is a central element of economic globalisation.
In its conclusions, the Council says that trade unions in the automobile industry must strengthen their structures and activities to successfully confront the challenges outlined earlier. IMF affiliates worldwide are already taking steps in this direction, but, because of the increasing importance at the international level, the work of the IMF must also be reinforced.
The IMF World Auto Council calls upon the IMF to take the following steps:
1. The IMF will develop working structures and methods that will allow it to:
i. deal rapidly and effectively with the multitude of developments with which economic globalisation constantly confronts the trade unions;
ii. work effectively within the emerging strategic alliances in the auto industry;
iii. develop mechanisms of international coordination between company-based bodies such as world councils. The emerging auto industry alliances, which apply rationalisation strategies throughout several enterprises that remain more-or-less independent, are a perfect illustration of the need for better coordination.
2. Effective communication and cooperation are preconditions for the further development of existing IMF bodies such as world councils. The Council recommends that facilitation of communication and information exchange be given the highest priority in the IMF's auto industry work.
3. The IMF should develop specific union-building projects with the assistance of its affiliates.
4. Promoting respect for the ILO's core labour standards as spelled out in the IMF Model Code of Conduct is another key task for the IMF.
5. A further central task for the IMF is to develop mechanisms for coordination of company-based structures, such as world councils, on a global level.
6. To assist the IMF Secretariat, Executive and Central Committees with respect to Action Programme implementation in the auto industry, we recommend the creation of an auto industry working group with appropriate regional representation. Its work should include:
i. developing a catalog of information and better means for a structured exchange of information;
ii. observing and evaluating economic trends;
iii. developing appropriate industry- and company-level IMF structures and projects;
iv. developing strategies for trade union actions and activities.
The entire text is available in English on this website under Publications/English/Conclusions of the IMF World Auto Council. The text in German, French, Swedish, Spanish and Italian will become available in a few days' time.
In its conclusions, the Council says that trade unions in the automobile industry must strengthen their structures and activities to successfully confront the challenges outlined earlier. IMF affiliates worldwide are already taking steps in this direction, but, because of the increasing importance at the international level, the work of the IMF must also be reinforced.
The IMF World Auto Council calls upon the IMF to take the following steps:
1. The IMF will develop working structures and methods that will allow it to:
i. deal rapidly and effectively with the multitude of developments with which economic globalisation constantly confronts the trade unions;
ii. work effectively within the emerging strategic alliances in the auto industry;
iii. develop mechanisms of international coordination between company-based bodies such as world councils. The emerging auto industry alliances, which apply rationalisation strategies throughout several enterprises that remain more-or-less independent, are a perfect illustration of the need for better coordination.
2. Effective communication and cooperation are preconditions for the further development of existing IMF bodies such as world councils. The Council recommends that facilitation of communication and information exchange be given the highest priority in the IMF's auto industry work.
3. The IMF should develop specific union-building projects with the assistance of its affiliates.
4. Promoting respect for the ILO's core labour standards as spelled out in the IMF Model Code of Conduct is another key task for the IMF.
5. A further central task for the IMF is to develop mechanisms for coordination of company-based structures, such as world councils, on a global level.
6. To assist the IMF Secretariat, Executive and Central Committees with respect to Action Programme implementation in the auto industry, we recommend the creation of an auto industry working group with appropriate regional representation. Its work should include:
i. developing a catalog of information and better means for a structured exchange of information;
ii. observing and evaluating economic trends;
iii. developing appropriate industry- and company-level IMF structures and projects;
iv. developing strategies for trade union actions and activities.
The entire text is available in English on this website under Publications/English/Conclusions of the IMF World Auto Council. The text in German, French, Swedish, Spanish and Italian will become available in a few days' time.