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| The global labor movement lost a good friend and a strong ally when Marcello Malentacchi (left), the General Secretary of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), died recently while cycling near his birthplace in Tuscany, Italy. |
Marcello Malentacchi, a 20-year General Secretary of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) and a close friend of the IAM, passed away on May 24th at the age of 66. Malentacchi died of natural causes while cycling near his birthplace in Tuscany, Italy.
Malentacchi worked hand-in-hand with IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger to advance the IndustriALL Global Union, the worldwide labor organization the IMF helped found. In his over 40 years in the labor movement at the local, national and international level, Malentacchi worked to promote social justice amidst turbulent world events.
“The international labor movement has lost a courageous, combative and devoted trade unionist,” said Buffenbarger. “I will remember Marcello for his intellect. He was a man of intuition who spoke six languages and believed whole-heartedly that collective bargaining and strong independent unions were an essential part of our world.”
After growing up as the son of an agricultural laborer in Italy, Malentacchi moved to Sweden and was hired as a health and safety officer at Svenska Metall. He was appointed to handle health and safety with the IMF in 1981. In 1989, he was elected IMF General Secretary and held that post until his retirement in 2009.
Malentacchi is survived by his wife, Joséphine, and daughters, Christina and Sandra.
