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<ol><li>Funding for the Federation consists of: <ol type="A"><li>Statutory annual subscriptions from affiliated unions as determined by the Congress, and</li><li>B. Voluntary contributions.</li></ol></li><li>The annual subscription of CHF 1.10 per member is payable according to Gross National Product (GNP) on the basis of the six groups below. For the purpose of these rules, GNP is as determined by the United Nations.</li><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="402"><tbody><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Subscription Groups</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">GNP per Capita</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">Subscription Ratio / Amount of subscription per member per year</td></tr><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Group 1</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">Over USD 10,000 </td><td width="151" valign="bottom">100% / CHF 1.100</td></tr><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Group 2</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">USD 5,001-10,000 </td><td width="151" valign="bottom">60% / CHF 0.660</td></tr><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Group 3</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">USD 2,501-5,000 </td><td width="151" valign="bottom">30% / CHF 0.330</td></tr><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Group 4</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">USD 1,001-2,500 </td><td width="151" valign="bottom">15% / CHF 0.165</td></tr><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Group 5</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">USD 501-1,000 </td><td width="151" valign="bottom">5% / CHF 0.055</td></tr><tr><td width="100" valign="bottom">Group 6</td><td width="151" valign="bottom">Less than USD 500 </td><td width="151" valign="bottom">2% / CHF 0.022</td></tr></tbody></table><li>The minimum annual subscription by any affiliate shall be no less than CHF 250.</li><li>Subscriptions to be paid for the first year by newly affiliated organisations shall be calculated in proportion to the organisation's date of affiliation.</li><li>Subscriptions are to be paid in the first half of each year, on the basis of the number of members at the end of the previous year.</li><li>To the extent that these subscriptions should not be sufficient, the Central Committee is entitled to raise them accordingly.</li><li>The Executive Committee will determine guidelines to apply for the transition to the subscription system in this Article.</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

ARTICLE 8 - FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS,ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

<ol type="A"><li>Affiliated organisations shall have responsibility for carrying out decisions following from the IMF mission and the maintenance of contacts between the Federation and affiliated organisations.</li><li>National sections or committees may be established - at the expense of the organisations concerned - in countries where the IMF has more than one affiliate in order to maintain relations between them and with the IMF Secretariat.</li><li>The expenses of the national committees shall be borne by the affiliated organisations in the country concerned.</li></ol>

<ol><li>Duties of the President <ol type="A"><li>The President shall preside over all meetings of the Congress, Central Committee, Executive Committee and Finance Committee.</li><li>The President shall ensure that all business of each such meeting is conducted in accordance with the Rules of the Federation.</li><li>The President shall, jointly with the General Secretary, be responsible to the Federation for the supervision and general direction of the work of the Assistant General Secretaries and Department Heads. The President shall perform any such other duties in accordance with decisions of the Congress, Central Committee and Executive Committee.</li><li>In the event of the President leaving office prior to completion of his or her term, the Vice President shall serve in a temporary capacity as Acting President until a Central Committee or Congress elects the new President.</li><li>If required, an extraordinary Central Committee will be convened as soon as practicable to elect the new President. </li></ol></li><li>Duties of the Vice President In the event of the President leaving office prior to completion of his or her term, the Vice President shall serve in a temporary capacity as Acting President until a Central Committee or Congress elects the new President. </li><li>Duties of the General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries <ol type="A"><li>Subject to the direction of the Congress, Central Committee, Executive Committee or Finance Committee, the General Secretary shall: <ol type="i"><li>Act as the principal spokesperson of the IMF.</li><li>Implement the policy and decisions of the Congress, Central Committee and the Executive Committee.</li><li>Safeguard at all times and in every respect the interests of the Federation and ensure its legal representation.</li><li>Act as the general administrator of the Federation, including managing and directing operations and handling all staff and other personnel issues, including appointment of Regional and Project Office Representatives.</li><li>If necessary, prior to Congress, call meetings of the committees that have been established by the Central Committee for the preparation work of Congress.</li><li>Direct the financial administration of the Federation, including the collection of annual dues from affiliates, and direct and implement all financial and other business operations and transactions involving the Federation.</li><li>Keep all proper financial accounts and records current, including information with respect to all income and disbursements in accordance with Federation policies and Rules.</li><li>Appoint, in consultation with the President, Department Heads.</li><li>Engage staff who shall be under the control and supervision of the General Secretary and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them.</li><li>Perform such additional functions as are set out in these Rules or as may be determined from time to time by Congress, the Central Committee, or the Executive Committee, or as agreed upon with the President.</li></ol></li><li>The Assistant General Secretaries shall, unless otherwise engaged in Federation business, or unavailable, attend all meetings of Congress, Central Committee and Executive Committee.  They shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the General Secretary in cooperation with the President.</li></ol></li></ol>

ARTICLE 5 - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL SECRETARY ANDASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARIES

<ol type="A"><li><div>The Congress shall elect an Auditing Committee consisting of four persons, who need not be delegates to the Central Committee.</div></li><li><div>The Auditing Committee shall oversee both external and internal audits as well as related procedures, policies, and methods utilised for such audits, and issue a report to the Central and Executive Committees. The Committee shall also undertake other responsibilities as directed by the Executive Committee.</div></li><li><div>Responsibility for accepting the financial accounts of the General Secretary and the Executive Committee rests with the Central Committee.</div></li></ol>

6.     The Auditing Committee

Throughout the world, people are meeting and mobilising against the destructive effect of unbridled capitalism, all-out deregulation and corporate abuses; they call for the promotion of democracy, human rights, and social justice.  Various social and political movements have rejected the neo-liberal consensus and are following a different path. The World Social Forum process that started in 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil is still the largest and most inclusive space where alliances can be built and joint initiatives taken with different social actors. In the last decade, real political change has taken place in some countries, most notably in Latin America, where democratic and progressive governments have come to power and have challenged the neo-liberal economic model by renationalizing their key natural resources and using its profits to benefit the many and not just the few. Numerous movements and networks that play an important role in local and global politics have emerged, creating spaces of dialogue and common action, and building broad-based coalitions. There is now a window of opportunity for the world's progressive social forces to get together and come up with alternatives to neo-liberal policies.  Alternatives dedicated to sustainable development, human rights, gender equity and the protection of individual and collective rights in the economy offer opportunities for solidarity and alliances for working people everywhere.

Preface

3. GLOBAL SOLIDARITY IN ACTION

3.3 Defend and protect workers rights

1. OUR MISSION

2. THE WORLD TODAY

2.1 Profits over people

2.2 Unemployment and job insecurity

2.3 Unions under attack

2.4 Fundamental workers´ rights denied

2.5 Spreading influence of Transnational Corporations

2.6 World trade system in disarray

2.7 An unsustainable future

2.8 Alliances, resistance and opportunities

3.1 Build strong national trade unions

3.1.1 Organise the unorganised

3.1.2 Strive for trade union unity at the national level

3.1.3 Build unions through education, training and effective exchange of information

3.2 Strengthening collective bargaining

3.3.1 Fight for trade union rights

3.3.2 Fight for Equal Rights

3.3.3 Fight for safe workplaces

3.4 Build a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations

3.4.1 Strengthening union solidarity and cooperation across sectors and TNCs

3.4.2 Advance fundamental rights through International Framework Agreements

BRAZIL:  On September 1, workers at the Volkswagen-Audi factory in the city of Curitiba began a one-week strike. Workers at the Volvo and Renault/Nissan plants in the same town also went on strike on the same day.During that week 24-hour strikes occurred at Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Mercedes Benz and Scania in cities in the interior of Sao Paulo state.The first workers to reach an agreement were those at Volvo, on 4 September and Renault/Nissan, on 5 September. The unions accepted a 2.66 per cent real increase in pay plus 7.15 per cent in line with the increase in the National Consumer Price Index (INPC) over the last twelve months, making a total pay rise of 10 per cent. They also negotiated a one-off payment of R$ 1,500 (about US$863).Meanwhile, the dispute continued at VW-Audi in Curitiba where workers demanded a 12 per cent pay rise. On September 9, workers ended the strike after accepting an 11 per cent pay rise starting in November (3.6 per cent real increase plus 7.15 per cent in-line with inflation). Workers also negotiated a one-off payment of R$ 2,000 (about US$ 1,150).The strikes forced the companies to improve their offers, which were initially very low. The increase in real wages in addition to the inflation-linked pay rise, together with the one-off payments, represent a major victory for metalworkers. &quot;This is why we say it is worth putting up a fight. Now we are going to get ready for the next round of pay negotiations, for auto parts in October and metalworking and machinery in December,&quot; said Sergio Butka, President of the Curitiba Metalworkers' Union and of Força Sindical in Paraná state.&nbsp;The ABC - centre of the auto industryThe CUT-SP Federation of Metalworkers' Unions reached a good agreement for all auto workers in the state on September 6. The ABC Metalworkers' Union, representing workers in the country's main auto industry centre, had threatened to call a strike, but this was not required, with workers accepting the employers' proposal two days before the date set for the strike. The Taubaté union also accepted the proposal after bringing Volkswagen and Ford factories to a halt.The São Paulo federation agreement consisted of an 11.01 per cent pay rise (3.6 per cent real increase plus 7.15 per cent in line with inflation) for workers on wages of up to R$ 7,500.Workers with above R$ 7.500 received a 7.15 per cent pay rise in line with inflation plus a fixed amount of R$ 289.30. The minimum wage for the sector was increased from R$ 1,110 to R$ 1,250, an increase of 12.6 per cent.Similarly, ABC and Taubaté auto workers received a one-off bonus of R$ 1,450 (US$ 845) on September 22. Including this payment, the pay rise was five per cent, a historic victory for the union.The President of the ABC Metalworkers' Union, affiliated to CNN/CUT, Sergio Nobre, said that after 18 hours of meetings, an agreement was reached &quot;worth a significant amount&quot;. He added that the growth of the auto industry in recent years created the conditions for workers to seek these pay rises.

Workers at major auto industry plants in Brazil went on strike during September in support of their demands for improved pay. 

Wave of strikes and agreements in the Brazilian auto industry

GLOBAL:  Increasing numbers of workers around the world are faced with job insecurity, low wages and an uncertain future. In a week of mobilisation taking place around the world from September 30, metalworker trade unions affiliated to the International Metalworkers' Federation are holding a series of actions at the local and national level calling for an end to precarious employment.Actions include information campaigns, work place meetings, meetings with company management and major demonstrations in countries including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, Sri Lanka and Turkey.Nine out of 10 unions affiliated to the IMF have reported an increase in the prevalence of precarious work in recent years. &quot;Together we must take action to stop the spread of precarious work,&quot; said IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi. &quot;Good jobs are what trade unions bargain for. Around the world, unions are mobilising, organising and bargaining for better, more secure work.&quot;Details and reports on actions being taken by metalworker unions around the world are available on the IMF website. On October 7, IMF and its affiliates will also participate in a global day of action in conjunction with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and all other Global Union Federations (GUFs).Precarious work affects us all is a global union campaign to stop the rise in precarious employment and regain power and justice for working people.To find out more about trade union efforts against precarious work and the week of mobilisation go to: <a href="../precariouswork">www.imfmetal.org/precariouswork</a><img src="" alt="" width="318" height="61" /> &#160;

Metalworkers around the world stand up and call for an end to precarious work.

Precarious work affects us all!

Organising for better, more secure work

UK: British metal union Unite joined forces with Canadian USW members outside Potosh Corporation&#039;s 2008 Analyst Meeting in London on September 23 in an effort to urge the company to return to the bargaining table. USW members in Canada have been on strike at PotachCorp since August.The strikers are fighting for a fair share of the company&#039;s enormous profits as a result of the record prices being paid for the mineral fertiliser potash. The steelworkers handed out leaflets outlining PotashCorp&#039;s performance since the strike began and informing analysts and investors about the dispute - placing responsibility on PotashCorp&#039;s President, Bill Doyle and Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Wayne Brownlee, who were at the meeting.On July 2, USW and Unite announced plans to merge the two unions to create, Workers Uniting, a transatlantic global union representing over three million working people from every industrial sector in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

Members of Unite and USW were "Workers Uniting" outside Potosh Corporation's analyst's meeting in an effort to press the company to return to the bargaining table and reach settlement.

Canadian steelworkers protest in London

SOUTH KOREA: With the recent arrest of Hyundai Motor Branch First Vice-President Kim Tae-gon on September 16 and the arraignment of Jung Gab-deuk, president of the Korean Metal Workers&#039; Union (KMWU), on September 18 on charges of obstructing business, members of the KMWU are bracing for more assaults. Leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have also been targets of arrest. Arrest warrants were issued on July 24 for KMWU President Jung Gab-deuk, KMWU Vice-President Nam Taek-gyu, KCTU President Lee Suk-haeng, KCTU First Vice-president Jin Young-ok, KCTU General Secretary Lee Yong-shik, and all six of the top elected officers of the Hyundai Motor Branch namely; Yoon Hae-mo, Kim Tae-gon, Kim Jong-il, Jung Chang-bong, Joo In-koo, and Jo Chang-min. Search warrants were also issued for their homes. Reports from KMWU indicate that Vice-President Nam Taek-gyu and the remaining five Hyundai Motor Branch elected officers are currently in hiding, while another 70 of KMWU&#039;s national, regional and local leaders are targeted for investigation. KMWU President Jung Gab-deuk has been held at Youngdeungo Detention Center since his arrest on August 20. On July 27, KCTU First Vice-President Jin Young-ok was arrested and held before being released on bail in the first week of September.Meanwhile, police forces have surrounded the building where KMWU headquarters and the headquarters of the KCTU are located. All visitors to the building are searched and interrogated. The government has also announced audits of the two legal centers used by the KMWU and KCTU. The government crackdown stems from the union&#039;s participation in a July 2 general strike called by the KCTU and the KMWU&#039;s strike action in demand for national-level industrial collective bargaining. The International Metalworkers&#039; Federation is urging IMF affiliates to join the International Trade Union Confederation, KCTU and KMWU in denouncing the South Korean government&#039;s actions and demanding that basic internationally recognized labour standards and worker protections are respected.

Following a wave of strikes, the South Korean government has unleashed a massive attack against the Korean Metal Workers' Union targeting more than 75 of the union's key leaders for arrest or investigation.

IMF letter to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

Arrests of Korean trade unionists continue

The Africa Office is the oldest regional office within the IMF and was established during the period of the mergers of the major metal unions in South Africa at that time. Numsa, the IMF's largest affiliate in the region, is a result of the merger. The office was created in the pre-democracy years where the struggle for worker rights in South Africa was experiencing its most volatile era through major protests, strikes and other desperate industrial actions. The regional office has 28 affiliates with a total membership amounting to over 320 000 members. The region is divided into four sub-regions: East, West, North and Southern Africa. The two most active sub-regions are East and Southern Africa with West Africa struggling to alleviate some of its internal problems and the IMF Head Office sharing most of the responsibility for North Africa because of language and geographical dynamics. The regional office concentrates on union building, education and equal rights as part of its core activities in line with the IMF Action Programme. In addition, the office encourages mergers of small unions in order to facilitate growth and development of bigger, more powerful unions, as well as encouraging solidarity among workers through this process. Furthermore, the regional office has assisted affiliates with collective bargaining and organising campaigns as well as campaigns to highlight the poor effects of precarious work. The regional office faces many challenges on a regular basis that sometimes acts as impediments to real progress in the region. Due to the lack of large manufacturing bases in Africa, there are very small metal unions on the continent. This has thus highlighted the need to develop more general unions and to create space for different merges to take place. Another severe challenge is that of HIV/AIDS: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the world and whose direct impact is to kill off communities and the workforce in many countries. HIV/AIDS is a severe threat to livelihoods of families through deaths of bread-winners and therefore education and training around HIV/AIDS needs to be done on a continuous basis.Women continue to pose a further challenge for unions on the continent. Women remain in the background of union decision-making bodies are therefore marginalized on a regular basis. Leadership on the continent continue to downplay the valuable role that women bring to the labour movement and therefore are not opening up and creating adequate space for women to operate and lead within unions. The economic and political landscape in Africa is often unstable with high inflation rates, food insecurity and rising energy and fuel prices being the order of the day. This inevitably does not easily facilitate sound democracy and good governance from governments. The problem is compounded with high levels of poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and a general economic meltdown of essential social services in almost all affiliated countries.Thus, the environment in which the office operates has many challenges, but we continue to endeavour towards building strong, effective unions that can tackle many of the challenges listed above. The regional office produces a quarterly newsletter, UMOJA, as well as assists affiliates in the region to develop educational and training materials.

IMF Africa regional office

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