Secretariat Report 2011 (pdf) - International Metalworkers' Federation

Secretariat Report for the Central Committee of the IMF
In line with the guidelines developed after the inaugural meeting, a Steering Group
was formally established and UAW Secretary Treasurer Dennis Williams was
elected as chairperson of the Network at a meeting held in Chicago in March 2011.
The Steering Group adopted a plan of action for moving forward that includes,
among other things (a) establishing a space on the IMF website dedicated to the
Caterpillar Network; (b) tracking and monitoring collective bargaining developments
at Caterpillar facilities; (c) undertaking efforts to establish contacts with Caterpillar
unions not currently part of the Network; (d) compiling information on training and
occupational health and safety in the various countries with a view to formulating
common policy objectives and (e) engaging in constructive dialogue with
management for recognition of the Network.
Implementation of the action plan is underway. The network also provided solidarity
support to the AMWU, Australia, in their fight for a new collective agreement at the
Caterpillar facility in Tasmania and their organising campaign. Moreover, the
network is attracting interest outside the founding members and efforts to include
unions from emerging/developing countries, including at Caterpillar dealers around
the world, have started showing some encouraging results.
As part of the IMF application to FES to support the creation and strengthening of
global networks in TNCs, the Steering Group will meet again in early 2012 to
evaluate progress in achieving these objectives and to adopt steps to expand the
effectiveness of the Network and further build the strength of trade unions and
workers at Caterpillar.
The SKF World Trade Union Committee met in Italy in September 2009 and in
Sweden the following year. At that meeting the participants reported on measures
that had been negotiated with management at national and plant level, particularly
shorter working time and leave banking, to reduce the impact of the economic crisis
on employment. Discussing the future challenges for unions in SKF, Committee
members identified outsourcing and precarious work as important, with the need for
more information sharing and better communication between the members of the
Committee. The World Union Committee also committed to strengthening the
network between meetings and reviewing the content and implementation of the
international framework agreement signed with the company in 2003.
A Global Mechanical Engineering Conference took place in May 2011 in
Cincinnati, USA and gathered some 80 union representatives from 15 countries.
Also taking part in the event were delegates of the IAM Tool & Die Conference,
which was meeting concurrently in this location. The purpose of the Conference was
to look at developments and prospects in the sector, share experience on
organising and union-building, discuss joint strategies for engaging with companies,
and further develop union networks at company and sectoral levels. Given that
mechanical engineering is a diversified sector, the participants agreed that future
IMF activities should focus on the sub-sectoral level, starting with machinery for
construction and mining, and agricultural implements. There are some TNCs in
these sub-sectors, such as John Deere, Case New Holland and Komatsu, and a
potential for network development, building on the experience gained with the
Caterpillar network. The rise of China as key player in mechanical engineering
generated considerable debate. Delegates expressed their concerns about the
situation of workers’ rights and unfair competition, and stressed the need for the IMF
to develop a strategy on China and take some initiatives to help improve labour
standards in that country. They also discussed the issue of renewable energy
production and the impact on mechanical engineering companies which are
challenged to develop new technologies that foster sustainability. Moreover the
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