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<ol type="A"><li><div>The highest authority of the Federation is the Congress.</div></li><li><div>The Congress takes place as often as seems advisable, but at least every four years, and is convened by the General Secretary on the decision of the Central Committee.</div></li><li><div>The place, date, and agenda are determined by the Central Committee.</div></li><li><div>Notification of the convening of Congress must be given to affiliates at least four months beforehand.</div></li><li><div>The Congress is composed of representatives of the national organisations affiliated with the Federation.</div></li><li><div>Each affiliated organisation shall determine the number of representatives at the Congress and shall bear their expenses. Affiliated organisations requiring financial assistance to secure participation should make arrangements with the General Secretary well in advance of Congress.</div></li><li><div>A delegate may also represent several of the organisations of his or her country. </div></li><li><div>Such authority shall be in writing to the General Secretary signed by the Principal Officer of the affiliate delegating the representation.</div></li><li><div>Each affiliated organisation, which has fulfilled its financial obligations to the IMF, has the right to vote at the Congress.</div></li><li><div>For the first 200,000 members, affiliates have voting rights according to their membership.  For membership above 200,000, voting rights are in proportion with the subscriptions ratio paid under Article 7.</div></li><li><div>The Congress shall review reports, motions and resolutions offered by affiliates and the Executive Committee.</div></li><li><div>All reports and motions for the Congress must be received by the General Secretary three months before the opening of Congress<em>.</em></div></li><li><div>The General Secretary must notify all affiliated organisations of the Federation of the motions, allowing enough time for them to be brought to the notice of their members before the Congress meets.</div></li><li><div>Reports, motions and resolutions of the Congress are to be adopted by a simple majority of the eligible votes, while alterations of the Rules must require a two-thirds majority of the eligible votes.</div></li><li><div>Each regular Congress shall elect by simple majority of eligible votes<em> </em>the President of the Federation who holds an elected position within his or her organisation.</div></li><li><div>Each regular Congress shall also elect by simple majority of eligible votes the General Secretary of the Federation.</div></li><li><div>Each regular Congress shall also elect by simple majority of eligible votes the Vice President of the Federation who holds an elected position within his or her organisation.</div></li><li><div>Each regular Congress shall also elect with simple majority of eligible votes one or more Assistant General Secretaries of the Federation.</div></li><li><div>Each regular Congress shall also elect by simple majority of eligible votes<em> </em>the Executive Committee members.</div></li><li><div>Each regular Congress shall also elect by simple majority of eligible votes<em> </em>the Auditing Committee members.</div></li><li><div>The Congress determines its own standing orders.</div></li></ol>

2.     The Congress

<ol><li><strong>Overall Structure<br /><br /></strong>The official structure of the International Metalworkers' Federation consists of: <ol type="A"><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20022&amp;l=2">the Congress</a></li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20023&amp;l=2">the Central Committee</a>,</li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20024&amp;l=2">the Executive Committee</a>,</li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20025&amp;l=2">the Finance Committee</a>,</li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20026&amp;l=2">the Auditing Committee</a>. </li></ol></li></ol>

ARTICLE 1 - PURPOSE OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 2 - MISSION OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 3 - STRUCTURE OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 4 -- EXECUTING BODIES OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 5 - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

ARTICLE 6 - NATIONAL SECTIONS AND COMMITTEES

ARTICLE 7 - ADMISSION

ARTICLE 8 - FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

ARTICLE 9 - SUBSCRIPTIONS IN ARREARS AND EXONERATIONS

ARTICLE 10 - REVISION OF RULES

ARTICLE 11 - IMF HEADQUARTERS

<ol><li>In order to achieve these objectives, the IMF works to build a strong international trade union movement capable of effectively representing and promoting workers' interests, in the face of an ever-expanding global economy -- a global economy that has yet to embrace, let alone recognise, adopt and enforce workers' rights.</li><li>The IMF affirms<em> </em>that only through trade unions and the practice of collective bargaining the goals of attaining social security and constant progress for workers can be achieved. The IMF therefore fights for all workers in their desire for freedom of association to form their own trade unions, the right to collective bargaining, the right to enter into collective agreements and the right to strike to achieve their demands.</li><li>The IMF also supports all its affiliated unions, particularly in developing countries, in their efforts to achieve higher living standards for workers and to promote democratic, economic and social development.</li><li>The IMF also fights for all other related internationally recognised labour standards, such as the right to a livable wage, safe and healthy working conditions, prohibitions against discrimination, and prohibitions against child labour or compulsory forced labour.</li><li>The IMF stands ready to make common cause with other independent, autonomous, and democratic trade union organisations, notably the International Trade Union Confederation and other Global Union Federations in pursuing international trade union objectives. It seeks to work with non-governmental organisations which share a commitment to promote trade union and other human rights.</li><li>Specific IMF activities which support these objectives include: <ol type="A"><li>Supporting the organisational efforts of metalworkers everywhere, particularly in developing countries and in all countries where freedom of association and the existence of free trade unions are threatened.</li><li>Actively voicing metalworkers' positions on potential international trade union, political, social, and economic issues concerning metalworkers throughout the world. Such participation includes appearances and submissions with respect to relevant international forums such as the World Trade Organisation, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Trade Union Confederations, etc.</li><li>Serving as a catalyst, depository and exchange of information and material for affiliates needed in accomplishing these objectives.</li><li>Providing moral and practical support and leading in the development of creative and innovative strategies to assist in economic, political and social conflicts.</li></ol></li></ol>

<ol><li>The International Metalworkers' Federation (hereafter called IMF or Federation) is an international association of metalworkers' trade unions fighting to promote respect for trade union and other basic human freedoms, democracy, and social justice throughout the world.</li><li>The IMF provides means for trade unions of men and women in all facets of the metals and related industries - hereafter called metalworkers - to cooperate in pursuing common economic, social, labour and political objectives internationally.</li><li>The IMF works to achieve the recognition and effective enforcement of all international labour standards as specified by the International Labour Organisation's Conventions and Recommendations.  These standards include safe and healthy working conditions, elimination of all forms of discrimination, freedom of association, freedom to engage in collective bargaining, and prohibitions on child labour and forced labour.  In addition, the IMF works to improve job security.</li><li>The IMF also works for peace, freedom and self-determination for all people in the struggle for social progress of workers throughout the world, including the elimination of the social and economic differences between industrialised and developing countries, as well as all types of exploitation perpetrated<em> </em>by various nations and transnational corporations. </li><li>The trade unions affiliated to the IMF - while retaining their autonomy - accept its basic purposes and work for the practical achievement through a diversity of structures and means which contribute to the richness and strength of the Federation.</li></ol>

<ol><li>The location of the Federation's Headquarters shall be determined by the Congress.</li></ol>

<ol><li>The International Metalworkers' Federation can be dissolved only by a two-thirds majority<em> </em>of the Congress.  In such a case, the last Congress shall decide on the use of any remaining funds.</li></ol>

ARTICLE 12 - DISSOLUTION OF THE FEDERATION

<ol><li><div>The Congress alone may amend these Rules by a two-thirds majority.</div></li><li><div>Proposals concerning the revision of the Rules are to be submitted in accordance with IMF procedures outlined in Article 3.2. K., L., M. and N. of this document.</div></li></ol>

<ol><li>The General Secretary shall notify all organisations which are in arrears in their contributions.</li><li>An organisation in arrears in the payment of subscriptions loses speaking and voting rights at all IMF meetings, including the Executive Committee, Central Committee and the Congress.</li><li>Exoneration from the payment of subscriptions must be asked for in writing in the first half of the year for which the exoneration is required.</li><li>Exoneration from the payment of annual subscriptions shall only be granted by the Executive Committee in extraordinary cases such as civil war and repression of workers' rights. </li></ol>

<ol><li><strong>Admission</strong> <ol type="A"><li>Admission of a metalworkers' union to the IMF is acted upon based on a written application.</li><li>Such an application must contain the name of the applicant, number and nature of membership seeking application.</li><li>Applicants shall express their willingness to abide by all rules and policies of the Federation.</li><li>If an applicant is from a country where one or more IMF affiliates exist, the General Secretary must inform the affiliates about the application and request for their comments concerning the application.</li><li>Requests for affiliation, together with all relevant accompanying documents must be submitted with a recommendation by the Secretariat to the Executive Committee.</li><li>Admission requires a unanimous decision by the Executive Committee.</li><li>If objections are raised by any Executive Committee member the first time an affiliation is requested, the affiliation will be referred to the IMF Secretariat for response to the specific objection(s).</li><li>The affiliation request concerned will then be reconsidered by the Executive Committee.</li><li>If unanimous decision is not reached by the Executive  Committee at this time, the affiliation request will then be forwarded to the next meeting of the Central Committee, which  in turn will decide by a majority vote.</li><li>Affiliation of a new union is effective when the subscription has been paid in accordance with the Rules.</li></ol></li><li><strong>Suspension and Expulsion</strong> <ol type="A"><li>Expulsion from the Federation shall take place on the decision of the Central Committee under the following conditions: <ol type="i"><li>Affiliate acts against the interest of the IMF, and/or</li><li>Affiliate is in arrears with two annual subscriptions, which are not paid after notices have been given.</li></ol></li><li>The Executive Committee is authorised to suspend the affiliation<strong><em> </em></strong>of any union prior to the Central Committee.</li><li>An appeal against the decision of expulsion can be made at the succeeding IMF Congress.</li></ol></li><li><strong>Resignation</strong> <ol type="A"><li>An affiliate may resign by giving written notice to the General Secretary six months before the end of the calendar year.</li></ol></li></ol>

ARTICLE 7 - ADMISSION, RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

<ol><li><strong>Federation's Secretariat</strong> <ol type="A"><li>The Secretariat shall be composed of the General Secretary, the Assistant General Secretaries, departmental heads, representatives of regional and project offices, and other staff engaged by the General Secretary.</li><li>The General Secretary, in consultation with the President and the Finance Committee and subject to approval by the Executive Committee, shall establish working conditions through negotiations with the staff.</li></ol></li><li><strong>Industrial and Organisational Departments</strong> <ol type="A"><li>In order to promote the interests of workers in specific sectors, those who work for various multinational companies and those for specific groups of workers, the Central Committee shall have the authority to create Industrial and Organisational Departments.</li><li>The Industrial and Organisational Departments develop, coordinate and assist in implementing activities with affiliates related to the mission of the Federation and its Action Programme. The President of each Industrial and Organisational Department, elected by the Central Committee, shall work with the Executive Committee and respective departmental head at the Secretariat to carry out these duties.</li></ol></li><li><strong>Regional Structures</strong> <ol type="A"><li>A regional structure can be established where appropriate in order to discuss and act on matters specific to a region and to assist in the implementation of the activities related to the IMF Action Programme decided by the Executive Committee.</li><li>The regional structures function within the policy guidelines decided by the IMF governing bodies.</li></ol></li></ol>

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