4 July, 2011About 170,000 workers, the vast majority of whom are members of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) embarked on a nationwide strike in the engineering sector on 4 July after a deadlock in wage negotiations. The strike action which brought Johannesburg to a standstill, was also carried out in other major cities nation wide.

2 July, 2011The twenty percent wage increase that has been awarded to workers in the engineering, iron and steel industry has been welcomed with mixed feelings. Some union members think the twenty percent is a job well done as it meet the mandate given to the National Engineering Workers Union (NEWU), that the negotiators may not accept anything less than a twenty percent increase. For others, a much higher increase was needed as the new wage minimum still means that workers of the lowest grade get half of what is required to earn at the level of the poverty datum line.

29 June, 2011Last year Honeywell Inc. ruthlessly locked-out 228 American steelworkers at a uranium conversion plant in Metropolis, Illinois, and used scabs to replace them. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration remarked on 17 serious safety violations that jeopardized community safety.

29 June, 2011The Mexican miners' union has indicated that with that ruling the country is moving toward the establishment of real justice in relations between Mexican unions and the government.

28 March, 2011Stronger Together, a new quarterly newsletter released today, reports on the joint actions and shared goals of IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF as the three global union federations explore the creation of a new unified International for industrial workers.

24 March, 2011Submission deadline for the Global Union Labour Film Shorts 2011 is April 1. The International Metalworkers' Federation calls on its affiliates to submit their videos to a one hour line-up of the best short films from around the world focused on unions fighting back against austerity cuts. The line-up will be released in June online and in DVD.

24 March, 2011In a week of action, unions in Europe are taking action against a European economic governance proposal being considered by EU leaders that will lead to further austerity cuts across Europe.

24 March, 2011Companies affiliated to the Metal Product Industrialists' Association (MESS) are the target of a massive strike launch by IMF affiliate, Birlesik Metal-Is, whose members are fighting for improved wages and working conditions in the metal industry.

24 March, 2011Mining giant Rio Tinto feels the heat from global unions demanding the company to respect labour rights and international standards.

21 March, 2011The International Metalworkers' Federation joins with the independent trade union movement in Mexico in denouncing proposed labour law reforms that could go before parliament as early as this week. The 'reforms' will severely erode workers' rights in Mexico and must be stopped.