24 January, 2012Despite an improved performance in 2011 the Joint Global Health and Safety Committee (JGHSC) in ArcelorMittal plans to increase its efforts in 2012.

11 January, 2012Workers at the Caterpillar-owned Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) plant in Ontario, Canada were locked out on New Year's Eve when the union contract expired, after they overwhelmingly voted to authorize strike action unless management withdrew drastic concession demands.

11 January, 2012At the end of December 170 IF Metall union reps from working sites across Sweden agreed to a new 14 month contract with employers' associations, starting February 1, 2012, and running up to March 31, 2013. Salaries will be increased by 3 per cent.

14 December, 2011A trade union seminar has endorsed the decision to continue promoting unity in the form of a single national manufacturing sector union. Delegates also called for an increased grass roots and member participation and welcomed the increase in participation by young women and leaders.

14 December, 2011The Italian trade union confederations CGIL, CISL and UIL unanimously demand changes in the Monti government's plans for fiscal cuts of 30 billion Euro, to assure fairness. After a resultless meeting with the government the Italian unions called for a week of general strikes starting December 12.

5 December, 2011Indonesian union leaders explained how cooperation and targeted organizing led to growth at the IMF Indonesian Project Meeting in Indonesia. The meeting was part of a 3-month project supported by SASK.

2 December, 2011International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation started campaign in support of six trade union leaders sentenced in Pakistan.

25 November, 2011The month long strike by members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) at Xstrata smelters in Rustenburg ended on November 25 with an agreement that a joint task team would investigate wage disparities and address these with immediate effect once the investigation is complete.

25 November, 2011Wage increases of 3,8 percent for 75,000 steelworkers, and permanent status for trainees. That is the result of negotiations between IG Metall and employers in the steel sector in the three German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bremen.

22 November, 2011360 representatives from IMF affiliates in 47 countries are on their way to IMF meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 5-8.