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6 October, 1999IG Metall Congress gets off to a vibrant start.
GERMANY: The opening of the IG Metall Congress, taking place in Hamburg this week, was totally devoted to an international theme, with a huge poster dominating the stage which said, in English, "We are the world."
Throughout the ceremony, the mood was very upbeat, emphasising brotherhood, solidarity and peace. A continuous projection showed scenes of terror, hunger, protest marches against images of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Yitzhak Rabin shaking hands with Yasser Arafat.
Thus the mood was set for the Congress' main theme of human and trade union rights. Jürgen Peters, IG Metall vice-president, made a long and important reference to the Social Clause and the necessity to build up strong international unions.
Seven speakers, each from a different country and with different experiences, spoke on solidarity. Mun Sung-hyun, the Korean Metal Workers' Union president, who was only released from prison this past August 15, made a strong presentation and appeal to continue support for the trade unions in South Korea.
Martha Ojada, representing the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras, described her experiences with the Mexican authorities and the official trade unions, which are doing their utmost to destroy the emergence of independent, democratic unions.
From India, Kailash Sathyarthi, representing the SACCS, a coalition against child labour, made an excellent presentation of the work they are doing. Together with him was a 13-year-old boy who has been working and exploited since the age of 3. This was so moving that the three thousand people in the hall were in tears, including an experienced journalist who was animating the programme.
Guests heard Milan Nicolic, the president of the new metalworkers' union in Serbia, Nezavisnost, who spoke of the necessity of bringing down Milosevic and his regime. He was followed by Hassan Abazi, president of the Kosovo metalworkers' union SPMK. Apart from what both said of the difficulties being encountered to rebuild the whole country, they also asked for assistance to rebuild their unions.
John Gomomo, an MP in South Africa and former president of the Volkswagen shopstewards in Uitenhagen and president of COSATU, talked about the work the IMF carried out in his country during apartheid and that the final victory was only possible because of their united efforts.
Throughout the ceremony, the mood was very upbeat, emphasising brotherhood, solidarity and peace. A continuous projection showed scenes of terror, hunger, protest marches against images of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Yitzhak Rabin shaking hands with Yasser Arafat.
Thus the mood was set for the Congress' main theme of human and trade union rights. Jürgen Peters, IG Metall vice-president, made a long and important reference to the Social Clause and the necessity to build up strong international unions.
Seven speakers, each from a different country and with different experiences, spoke on solidarity. Mun Sung-hyun, the Korean Metal Workers' Union president, who was only released from prison this past August 15, made a strong presentation and appeal to continue support for the trade unions in South Korea.
Martha Ojada, representing the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras, described her experiences with the Mexican authorities and the official trade unions, which are doing their utmost to destroy the emergence of independent, democratic unions.
From India, Kailash Sathyarthi, representing the SACCS, a coalition against child labour, made an excellent presentation of the work they are doing. Together with him was a 13-year-old boy who has been working and exploited since the age of 3. This was so moving that the three thousand people in the hall were in tears, including an experienced journalist who was animating the programme.
Guests heard Milan Nicolic, the president of the new metalworkers' union in Serbia, Nezavisnost, who spoke of the necessity of bringing down Milosevic and his regime. He was followed by Hassan Abazi, president of the Kosovo metalworkers' union SPMK. Apart from what both said of the difficulties being encountered to rebuild the whole country, they also asked for assistance to rebuild their unions.
John Gomomo, an MP in South Africa and former president of the Volkswagen shopstewards in Uitenhagen and president of COSATU, talked about the work the IMF carried out in his country during apartheid and that the final victory was only possible because of their united efforts.