7 March, 2012The Global Union Federations IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF join the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) demanding Egyptian authorities drop charges against Kamal Abbas, general coordinator of the Egyptian Center for Trade Union and Workers' Services, sentenced for six month imprisonment in February 2012.

7 March, 2012On March 5 the management of Benteler Kaluga (Russia) agreed to negotiate a collective agreement with the Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA). Its previous decision to refuse negotiations was withdrawn.

16 February, 2012The Australian High Court last week refused to hear an appeal by Rio Tinto over the company's illegal non-union collective agreements imposed on iron ore miners in West Australia.

15 February, 2012IMF South Asia Office organized a workshop on EU India Free Trade Agreement on February 14 and 15 in New Delhi. Representatives of Indian national trade union centres and Indian affiliates of IMF, BWI, ITGLWF, UNI, ICEM exchanged views on trade policies and implications for development and employment with IMF affiliates from France, Italy, Canada, Argentina and Japan.

14 February, 2012On February 12 Histadrut (Israel Federation of Trade Unions) ended its national strike having gained considerable improvements in conditions of employment for precarious workers in Israel. Many temporary workers will be regularized and get higher wages and better conditions.

16 December, 2011Amid mounting international pressure against GEA the IMF and EMF joined the picket line at GEA's subsidiary in Turkey on December 16 to address locked-out workers and show solidarity with their struggle.

15 December, 2011After 94 days of strike an agreement was signed in Jakarta on December 14 between PT Freeport Indonesia Workers' Union (SP KEP SPSI) and the Indonesian subsidiary of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan.

12 December, 2011IMF's British affiliate Unite has warned car maker BMW that it could face industrial action in 2012 unless it reverses plans to close its pension scheme to new starters and use a legal loop-hole to deny agency staff equal pay.

18 October, 2010Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in Rome on October 16, demanding workers' rights, democracy and jobs.

4 October, 2010The International Metalworkers' Federation is putting increased emphasis on building trade union networks in transnational companies (TNC's).