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.

22 noviembre, 2011360 representatives from IMF affiliates in 47 countries are on their way to IMF meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 5-8.

18 abril, 2012Fellesforbundet, Norwegian affiliate of the IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF, concluded a new collective agreement for the workers of metal, textile, cable and technology and data sectors granting among others equal pay and working conditions for temporary workers vis-à-vis permanent staff.

17 abril, 2012IMF demands reinstatement of 204 workers at an automotive supplier company, PT. Surya Gemilang Perkasa, in Indonesia, dismissed for taking legitimate strike action on March 27 held after the company failed to implement court order to grant permanent employment.

17 abril, 2012Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh (PCSS), an ICEM affiliate, conducted a two-week tour of activities in Switzerland in April, educating trade union colleagues on the grave violations of work rights abuses by Holcim Cement of contract workers in India's Chhattisgarh region.

16 abril, 2012These contracts deny workers the internationally recognised rights to the freedom of association and collective bargaining, impose long working hours, low pay, poor working conditions, abusive treatment and little access to health and maternity benefits and pensions because they are not permanent employment contracts.

27 marzo, 2012General Motors workers in Shushary (Saint-Petersburg area, Russia) secured a wage raise of 10.5 per cent starting from April 1, partly meeting the demands of the Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA).

22 marzo, 2012Six Zimbabwean activists were found guilty of charges of inciting public violence on March 19, causing uproar among labour and civil society organizations. Regional and international calls for the charges to be dropped swiftly shifted focus to put pressure on key government officials through a sms campaign to ensure that the lightest possible sentence would be handed down.

22 marzo, 2012The network Steering Group met and approved a work plan in Belgium shortly after the closure of Caterpillar's EMD plant in Canada.

7 marzo, 2012In response to evidence of exploitation of workers producing goods for London 2012 Olympics, detailed in the new Playfair report "Toying with Workers' Rights", the organizers of the London 2012 Olympics signed an agreement with the Playfair 2012 campaign to protect the rights of workers in its supply chains.