26 September, 2008The Chinese government sets a September 30 deadline to force "Fortune 500" companies to allow for state-run unions to represent workers.

3 December, 2008Police raid homes, abduct, arrest and beat union leaders and workers protesting the government's refusal to allow workers to withdraw their full paychecks from the banks.

1 December, 2008Six executives from the Italian unit of German steel maker ThyssenKrupp were indicted on charges ranging from manslaughter to murder for their involvement in the December 2007 steel plant fire that killed seven workers.

19 November, 2008Executive Committee adopts concrete proposals to address global financial crisis and its impact on metalworkers and their families.

28 October, 2008European unions carry out protests against plans announced by the HP- EDS group to massively reduce its workforce.

23 October, 2008The new four-year contract covers some 14,000 steelworkers throughout the United States.

22 October, 2008Twelve arrested, one hospitalised and many more injured by Kiryung Electronics-hired thugs and police who were called in to break KMWU strike launched by workers that produced Sirius Satellite Radios in Korea.

14 October, 2008Metalworkers and their trade unions take united action against precarious work around the world.

14 October, 2008KMWU President Gab-Deuk Jung was arrested and charged with "obstruction of business" following a series of strikes demanding industry-wide collective bargaining and protesting U.S. beef imports.

10 October, 2008Global committee working to improve the health and safety at ArcelorMittal operations in Kazakhstan and around the world.