From left: Director Owen Herrnstadt, Secretary Sarah Stough, and Representative Dennis Hitchcock.

Trade & Globalization

As 2004 draws to a close, IAM members face a world that has dramatically changed. The word “globalization” now easily slips into conversations, print and news reports. In recognition of this new reality, in 2003 the IAM Executive Council adopted a different name for the International Affairs Department, changing it to Trade and Globalization. As the world’s economic conditions have evolved, so has the IAM Trade and Globalization Department.

Trade is the buying and selling of goods and services. This commerce provides jobs for IAM members in the United States and Canada. Trade is the economic heart that pumps the life-blood that sustains many of the companies that employ IAM members.

If trade is conducted in a fair way, it can benefit everyone.

Globalization is a much harder word to define. To many IAM members it has become synonymous with job loss and economic upheaval. To others it means new opportunities as international markets open the way for the sale of the products they make. The word itself is neutral, but the economic effects of globalization are undeniable.

Multinational corporations employ many IAM members. Virtually all of these companies have embraced the concept of a global economy and are now in a continuous search for the lowest costs when producing their products. In the last four years, this “race to the bottom” has resulted in severe job loss and dislocation for IAM members in both Canada and the United States.

In the face of these challenges, IAM General Vice Presidents and IAM District and Local Lodges continue to call on the expertise of the Trade and Globalization Department.

As the global economy becomes a reality, maintaining close contact with IAM members and their trade union counterparts abroad has become an increasing focus of the Department’’s work.

Within the IAM, the Trade and Globalization Department works closely with the Territorial offices and the Transportation Department. We also work closely with Collective Bargaining, Communications, Women’s, Human Rights, Legal, Safety and Health, Organizing, Strategic Resources, High Performance Work Organization and other Departments to accomplish the IAM’s goal of international solidarity. The department also coordinates with the William W. Winpisinger Education Center to facilitate training on global economy issues.

To represent and protect IAM workers, the department also participates on a variety of committees that advise the U.S. Government in formulating its many policies concerning trade, labor, and international economic issues.

The Trade and Globalization Department also coordinates IAM activities at the global union federations that our union is affiliated with. These include the International Metalworkers’ Federation, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers.

In addition, the activities of the IAM Trade and Globalization Department extend to a number of other organizations that have an impact on our members and workers around the world. One of the most important of these bodies is the International Labor Organization, a United Nations agency that promotes social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights. This involvement guarantees that the IAM’s voice is heard in all forums, not just those involving trade unions.

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