20 octubre, 2011The IMF World Congress in 2009 took place in the middle of a global financial and economic crisis. In a difficult situation, metalworkers' unions renewed their commitment to organize and build stronger unions, fight for trade union rights and join the forces of workers to build a counterweight to transnational corporations (TNCs). This article summarizes the IMF's work in the key priority areas during the past two years.

25 octubre, 2011The strike in the Finnish metal sector ended October 25 when the Metalworkers' Union and the salaried employees' union Pro approved the conciliation proposal of the State conciliator. YTN has not yet renewed its agreement. A strike of professional and managerial staff still threatens in the metal industry.

11 octubre, 2011Five workers were immediately crushed to death and seven more injured when a 42-ton elevated ramp fell on workers at Keppel Subic Shipyard on October 7. Later the same day one of the seven injured workers died in hospital in Olongapo. The MWAP denounces lax safety standards.

11 octubre, 2011International pressure -- both inside and out of Georgia -- caused a change of course last week by police and political authorities in the aftermath of belligerent 15 September strike-breaking at Euroasian Steels in Kutaisi.

20 octubre, 2011A new issue of Metal World - the last - went to print and is published on the IMF website.

20 octubre, 2011On October 3 the lower house of the Belarus parliament adopted in the two readings the bill 'On Making Addenda and Amendments to Some Laws of the Republic of Belarus'. This bill, among other things, makes foreign financial support and financial aid to NGOs (including unions) completely illegal and further complicates arranging of mass protests and actions.

20 octubre, 2011UAW's tentative four-year agreements with Ford and Chrysler focus on jobs and investments. If accepted by 67,000 USW members at Ford and Chrysler, thousands of new jobs will be created.

14 diciembre, 2011A trade union seminar has endorsed the decision to continue promoting unity in the form of a single national manufacturing sector union. Delegates also called for an increased grass roots and member participation and welcomed the increase in participation by young women and leaders.

14 diciembre, 2011The Italian trade union confederations CGIL, CISL and UIL unanimously demand changes in the Monti government's plans for fiscal cuts of 30 billion Euro, to assure fairness. After a resultless meeting with the government the Italian unions called for a week of general strikes starting December 12.

14 diciembre, 2011In a statement in the run-up to the 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, December 15-17, The Global Unions make a joint statement criticizing the WTO for failing to address fundamental problems, and propose remedies.