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In Mexico, the country&#039;s largest mining company, Grupo México, and the Mexican government were both found to have violated Mexican law and international standards when they attempted to crush the IMF-affiliated National Miners&#039; and Metalworkers&#039; Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM). <h3>Union secretary forcefully removed</h3>In February 2006, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, the democratically-elected general secretary of the Mexican miners&#039; union was forcefully removed from his position after speaking out against the government and Grupo Mexico in response to a tragic mining accident in Pasta de Conchos that left 65 miners dead. The government appointed a new general secretary - who was not a member of the union - and seized all assets of the SNTMMSRM and Mr.Gomez.Inquiries into theses actions revealed that the government had used falsified documents, concealed evidence, and coerced officials to issue baseless arrest warrants against the union leader. Grupo México and the government then tried to divide the union, granting overnight recognition to a pro-company union and holding 'elections&#039; in which workers were forced and coerced to join its ranks.<h3>Unions protest globally</h3>The IMF strongly objected to this abuse of workers&#039; rights and urged the Mexican government to end its attack on the SNTMMSRM. Unions from around the world held protests at Mexican embassies and consulates denouncing the government&#039;s interference in the legal functioning of a union. The IMF launched a complaint with the International Labour Organisation against the Mexican government citing violations of ILO convention 87. The IMF Executive Committee decided to investigate both the circumstances surrounding the accident at the mine and the interference of the government in union affairs.Gómez was officially reinstated as general secretary on April 11, 2007, after a federal court ruled the Labour Ministry had overstepped its authority and failed to comply with established procedures. However, Gómez remains in exile due to unfounded pending charges and intense safety and security threats against him and his family.The IMF and its affiliates continue to provide solidarity support to the Mexican union in their struggle for independence and recognition of workers&#039; rights. <a href="../mexico">http://www.imfmetal.org/mexico</a>

Calling for justice in Mexico

PhotosVideoAwaiting text

Global action against precarious work

<h3>SOUTH ASIA</h3>IMF South Asia Office Linz House 159-A Gautam Nagar NEW DELHI 110 049 INDIA Tel: (91/11) 2653 7125 - 5184 1138 - 2651 4283 Fax: (91/11) 2685 2813 E-mail: <a href="mailto:sao@imfmetal.org">sao@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../asiapacific">http://www.imfmetal.org/asiapacific</a><table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Sudharshan Rao </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Research and communications officer:Gopalakrishnan Manicandan</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Support Staff:M. Balasubramaniyan</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3> SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC</h3>IMF Southeast Asia and Pacific Office No. 10-3, Jalan PJS 8/4 Dataran Mentari, Bandar Sunway 46150 PETALING JAYA Selangor Darul Ehsan MALAYSIA Tel: (60/3) 5638 7904 Fax: (60/3) 5638 7902 E-mail: <a href="mailto:seao@imfmetal.org">seao@imfmetal.org</a> <table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: P. Arunasalam</td><td><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /> </td></tr></tbody></table>Website: <a href="../asiapacific">http://www.imfmetal.org/asiapacific</a> <h3> LATIN AMERICA &amp; THE CARIBBEAN</h3>IMF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Avenida 18 de Julio Nº1528 Piso 12 unidad 1202 Montevideo URUGUAY Tel: +59 82 408 0813 Fax: +59 82 408 0813 E-mail: <a href="mailto:fitimalc@imfmetal.org">fitimalc@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../lacro">www.imfmetal.org/lacro</a><table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Jorge Almeida</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Education officer: Marino Vani</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="112" /></td></tr><tr><td>  Administrative Assistant:Fernanda Gastellù </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>  Finance Depatement:Lorena Gallego</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3> AFRICA</h3>IMF Africa Regional Office 156 Gerard Seketo (corner Gwigwi Mrwebi) Newtown JOHANNESBURG 2001 REP. of SOUTH AFRICAPostal address: IMF Africa Regional Office P.O. Box 31016 BRAAMFONTEIN 2017 REP. of SOUTH AFRICA Tel: ((27/11) 492 0301 - 492 0302 - 492 0303 - 492 0304 - 492 0294 Fax: (27/11) 492 0293 E-mail: <a href="mailto:aro@imfmetal.org">aro@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../africa">www.imfmetal.org/africa</a><table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Herman Lekubu Nlatleng </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Support Staff:Kamla Naidoo</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>CIS COUNTRIES</h3>IMF Regional Office for the Commonwealth of Independent States Str.2, d.13, Grokholsky per., Room 203 12090 MOSCOW RUSSIA Tel: (7/495) 974 6111 Fax: (7/495) 974 1622 E-mail: <a href="mailto:cisro@imfmetal.org">cisro@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../cisro">http://www.imfmetal.org/cisro</a> <table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Vadim Borisov </td><td><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="108" /> </td></tr><tr><td>Assistant regional representative: Natalia Afonina </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Communications officer: Ilya matveev</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 400px;height: 161px"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td align="left" valign="middle">54 bis, route des Acacias Case postale 1516 CH-1227 Geneva SwitzerlandTel: tel. +41 22 308 5050 Fax: tel. +41 22 308 5055 E-mail: <a href="mailto:info@imfmetal.org">info@imfmetal.org</a> </td><td align="left" valign="top"><img src="" alt="Main entrance to the IMF building" title="Main entrance to the IMF building" width="200" height="161" align="right" /></td></tr></tbody></table>Getting to the IMF Head Office by <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=International+Metalworkers'+Federation&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;ei=YapiS9yGBdLD_gbUrvwE&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;view=map&amp;cid=3418484417903310879&amp;ved=0CBwQpQY&amp;hq=International+Metalworkers'+Federation&amp;hnear=&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A">Google maps </a><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>General Secretary: Jyrki Raina tel. +41 22 308 5060 <a href="mailto:jraina@imfmetal.org">jraina@imfmetal.org</a> </td><td align="left"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="109" /> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Assistant General Secretary: Fernando Lopes tel. +41 22 308 5038 <a href="mailto:flopes@imfmetal.org">flopes@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="left"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr></tbody></table>ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>Héctor Mareque Assistant to General Secretary tel. +41 22 308 5037 <a href="mailto:hmareque@imfmetal.org">hmareque@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Margrit Reichlin Administrative Coordinator tel. +41 22 308 5024 <a href="mailto:mreichlin@imfmetal.org">mreichlin@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Daniel Godel Finance Officer tel. +41 22 308 5069 <a href="mailto:dgodel@imfmetal.org">dgodel@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Daniela Truchot Finance Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5061 <a href="mailto:dtruchot@imfmetal.org">dtruchot@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="103" /></td></tr><tr><td>Andrea Kay  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 3085022 <a href="mailto:eakay@imfmetal.org">eakay@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="mailto:mreichlin@imfmetal.org"></a></td><td align="right"> </td></tr><tr><td>Joséphine Malentacchi IT Coordinator tel. +41 22 308 5035 <a href="mailto:jmalentacchi@imfmetal.org">jmalentacchi@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Delphine Moeckli Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5025 <a href="mailto:dmoeckli@imfmetal.org">dmoeckli@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Antonio Barea  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5067 <a href="mailto:abarea@imfmetal.org">abarea@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table>RIGHTS AND CAMPAIGNS, UNION BUILDING, COMMUNICATIONS <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>Fernando Lopes Assistant General Secretary tel. +41 22 308 5038 <a href="mailto:flopes@imfmetal.org">flopes@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Kristyne Peter Director of Trade union rights and campaigns tel. +41 22 308 5031 <a href="mailto:kpeter@imfmetal.org">kpeter@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Carla Coletti Director of Trade &amp; Development, OECD, North Africa and Middle East tel. +41 22 308 5045 <a href="mailto:ccoletti@imfmetal.org">ccoletti@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Suzana Miller Project Officer tel. +41 22 308 5030 <a href="mailto:smiller@imfmetal.org">smiller@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="105" /></td></tr><tr><td>Anita Gardner Communications Director tel. +41 22 308 5032 <a href="mailto:agardner@imfmetal.org">agardner@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="107" /></td></tr><tr><td>Alexander Ivanou Communications Officer tel. +41 22 308 5033 <a href="mailto:aivanou@imfmetal.org">aivanou@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Cherisse Fredricks  Comm's and campaigns assistant tel. +41 22 308 5023 <a href="mailto:cfredricks@imfmetal.org">cfredricks@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Sarah Flores  Administrative Assistant  tel. +41 22 308 5029 <a href="mailto:eantoniades@imfmetal.org">mailto:eantoniades@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table>INDUSTRIAL AND TNC POLICIES <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>Rob Johnston Executive Director for Industrial and TNC policies steel tel. +41 22 308 5028 <a href="mailto:rjohnston@imfmetal.org">rjohnston@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="106" /> </td></tr><tr><td>Jenny Holdcroft Director of ICT, Aerospace, tel. +41 22 308 5034 <a href="mailto:jholdcroft@imfmetal.org">jholdcroft@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Anne-Marie Mureau Mechanical Engineering and Research Director South East Europe tel. +41 22 308 5041 <a href="mailto:ammureau@imfmetal.org">ammureau@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="115" /></td></tr><tr><td>Helmut Lense Automotive Director tel. +41 22 308 5027 <a href="mailto:hlense@imfmetal.org">hlense@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Kan Matsuzaki  Director of Shipbuilding and Non-Manual workers tel. +41 22 308 5016 <a href="mailto:kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org">kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Amandine Iwachow  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5042 <a href="mailto:aiwachow@imfmetal.org">aiwachow@imfmetal.org</a><a href="mailto:dmoeckli@imfmetal.org"></a> </td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Janire Escubi  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5036 <a href="mailto:aiwachow@imfmetal.org">mailto:aiwachow@imfmetal.org</a><a href="mailto:dmoeckli@imfmetal.org"></a> </td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="107" /></td></tr></tbody></table>

Where to find us

Market opening should be an instrument for sustainable development. This requires that the promotion of quality employment becomes the primary goal of trade liberalisation, with a fair distribution of the wealth for the workers who create it. The sustainable growth we stand for cannot happen at the expenses of weaker parties. The IMF, particularly through its Working Party on Trade, Employment and Development, works to build solidarity and harmonize the legitimate interests of workers in the North and the South, and to promote a transparent debate on the concerns arising from trade liberalisation.

Trade, employment &amp; development

The structural and technological transformation of metal industries has brought about profound changes in the occupational pattern of the workforce. Non-manual workers are growing in number but are poorly organised or not organised at all.  Like those on the shop-floor they are drawn into the race to the bottom in the global economy. The IMF and its affiliates need to engage and mobilise these workers around labour and professional issues to build greater solidarity and bargaining strength.

Non-Manual

Bad working conditions are experienced on a daily basis by workers. Even small improvements in occupational health and safety are well received by the most vulnerable groups of workers. Through education, IMF is assisting affiliates in setting up effective health and safety committees in all workplaces. IMF is working with affiliates in order to achieve an international ban on the production, import, export and use of asbestos, responsible for more than 100,000 deaths yearly.

Health and Safety

Building strong national trade unions is crucial. The strong unions which are in a permanent democratic relationship with workers, are capable of achieving real gains through collective bargaining, by organizing the unorganized, striving for trade union unity at the national level and building unions through training, education and effective exchange of information.To learn more about the IMF union building philosophy please click <a href="../index.cfm?c=21980&amp;l=2">here</a>.

SWEDEN: The 32nd IMF World Congress will be structured around debate of the IMF Action Programme, which sets out the strategies for global action by the IMF and affiliates over the next four years.With the April 15 deadline for submission of amendments to the draft Action Programme now passed, proposals will now be incorporated for consideration by the Action Programme Committee, which will meet prior to Congress. In a change from previous years, delegates will be able to raise proposals for amendments that have been rejected by the Action Programme Committee from the Congress floor, providing the proposal was submitted prior to April 15. A range of resolutions proposed by IMF affiliates will also be debated and voted on concurrent with related Action Programme sections. Delegates will be able to take part in the debate of different resolutions and Action Programme sections by submitting a formal request to speak once the relevant agenda item has been opened. Voting will take place initially through a show of hands. Affiliates are allotted votes according to the number of members they have declared to the IMF for the purpose of calculating their subscriptions, and only affiliates who have fulfilled their obligations to the IMF in terms of subscription payments are eligible to vote. Delegates at Congress will also take part in the elections for a new IMF General Secretary and IMF President. Current IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi will step down at Congress after 20 years in the role, and Jurgen Peters is also stepping down after six years as IMF President. More information about the IMF Action Programme debate and voting is available in the <a href="../main/congress2009/files/09042223511579/Congress%202009%20-%20Progr-A5-English.pdf" title="IMF Congress Programme and Guide">IMF Congress Programme and Guide</a>.&#160;

An agenda of rich and lively debate is taking shape for the 32nd IMF World Congress.

IMF Congress to debate the big issues for metalworkers

Globalisation and restructuring means the IMF and its affiliates must find ways to engage automotive companies to protect and defend the interest of workers in the sector.IMF auto activities use company - and industry-based meetings, action groups and networks at the regional and global levels, along with research on trends impacting workers, to facilitate the exchange of information, build union contacts and develop strategies. Helmut Lense, <a href="mailto:hlense@imfmetal.org">hlense@imfmetal.org</a>, is the Automotive Director.

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