Eastern Territory officers and staff visit a neighborhood where maquiladora workers live in the Tijuana, Mexico region. IAM members continue to suffer job losses to areas like these around the world.

Trade & Globalization — 2

Global Union Federations

International Metalworkers’ Federation’ (IMF)
The International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) represents the collective interests of 25 million metalworkers from more than 200 unions in 100 countries. The IMF is a federation of national unionsÑa union of unionsÑin the metal industry at the world level. Its head office is in Geneva, Switzerland, where worldwide activities are coordinated with a network of regional offices.

The IAM has been affiliated with the IMF for more than 100 years. An IAM member attended the founding meeting of the IMF at Zurich, Switzerland in August 1893. In 2001, the 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia. Leading the IAM delegation, International President R. Thomas Buffenbarger was reelected as a member of the IMF Executive committee. President Buffenbarger chaired segments of the IMF’s World Congress and was instrumental in leading a wide variety of debates and discussions.

Over the past four years, the IAM has intensified its relationship with the IMF. Currently, President Buffenbarger heads the IMF’s Aerospace Department. The IMF held a World Aerospace Meeting in Toulouse, France in June 2002, which was attended by key IAM members. The IAM led comprehensive discussions on issues such as outsourcing and transfers of work abroad.

The unique meeting divided aerospace workers from around the world into two groups with two separate teams of translators facilitating direct give-and-take discussions between aerospace workers from many different countries. The meeting resulted in the formation of smaller working groups to discuss relationships between Boeing workers and Airbus workers, as well as between suppliers and other manufacturers such as Bombardier and Embraer.

In the past four years, the IAM has been instrumental in formulating the IMF’s model framework agreements. These agreements mandate that corporations recognize, acknowledge and enforce internationally accepted labor standards in all of their work throughout the world.

The IAM is involved in working groups devoted to multinational corporations and organizing issues, as well as formulating the overall action program for the IMF. IMF activities in shipbuilding and electronics also benefits from IAM participation. The IAM is vigorously represented in IMF working groups related to non-manual or white collar workers, as well as being active participants in special working groups like those devoted to the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

IAM delegates participated in special missions by the IMF to investigate world crises such as the collapse of Argentina’s economy. Throughout these efforts, contacts, working relationships, coordination and solidarity have created a strong bond between the IAM and other unions affiliated with the IMF.

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is a union federation of 621 transportation trade unions in 137 countries representing nearly five million workers. The ITF was founded in 1896 in London, England, where it still maintains its headquarters. Today it represents workers in civil aviation, railroads, ships, road freight and passenger transport, inland waterways, fisheries, tourism and ports.

The ITF represents transport workers at the world level by promoting their interests through global campaigns reflected by international solidarity. It is dedicated to the advancement of independent and democratic trade unionism and to the defense of fundamental human and trade union rights. The IAM has expanded its work with the ITF since our past convention.

In August 2002, Transportation General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. led the IAM delegation at the ITF’s 39th Congress in Vancouver where he was reelected as a member of the Executive and Management Committees. The IAM also has representation on the Civil Aviation Section Committee and ITF union airline alliance committees.

The ITF Civil Aviation Section embraces aviation workers at almost every major airline and airport in the world. The ITF’s function is to represent its affiliated trade unions at an international level providing industrial and political coordination with the aim of protecting the rights and improving the working conditions of employees in the civil aviation industry. The IAM is proud to head the ITF Civil Aviation Committee. IAM Grand Lodge Representative Carla Winkler serves as the first woman chair of the Civil Aviation Section.

Activities of the Civil Aviation Section are now more focused and fast-paced than ever, including increased international coordination between trade unions within global airline alliances and ground service contracts. IAM General Chair Ted Trynock chairs the Star Union Coalition and Owen Herrnstadt, IAM Director of Trade and Globalization, heads the ITF’s North American Civil Aviation Section. IAM participation has been broad-based on a number of global actions including ITF campaigns against air rage and disruptive passenger behavior. In addition, the IAM has been active in ITF campaigns opposing violence against women in the workplace.

The IAM participated in ITF representation at the International Civil Aviation Organization meetings, as well as other trans-Atlantic initiatives. The IAM also sent delegations to the ITF Symposium on Airline Mergers, Low Cost Carriers, as well as a number of other ITF activities. By playing a leading role in shaping the scope of the Civil Aviation Section, the IAM has increased our presence and influence in this important international trade union body.

International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW)
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the IFBWW is the Global Union Federation (GUF) protecting more than 10 million members in 287 trade unions in 124 countries around the world in the building, building materials, wood, forestry and allied industries. The IFBWW`s mission is to promote the development of trade unions in these sectors and to promote and enforce workers rights in the context of sustainable development.

The IFBWW was established in 1934 and works closely with the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers. IFBWW headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, where worldwide activities are coordinated with a network of regional offices.

The IAM is a leader in the wood and forestry sections of this very important global union federation. Administrative Assistant

Rod Kelty, who heads the IAM Woodworkers Department, serves as an alternate member of the IFBWW Executive and Management Committees. In 2002 IAM Woodworker Representative William Street accepted a position at the IFBWW headquarters in Geneva as Secretary of the Wood and Forestry Committee and Director of the Global Wood and Forestry Program.

A strong global network of industry-wide unions is a primary goal of the IFBWW along with a policy of a “sustainable working life.” This approach seeks industry development that is economically viable, environmentally sensitive and provides for participation by workers and their unions in all decision making.

The IFBWW also supports the promotion of global labor standards that fight discrimination, promote gender equality, and eradicate child and forced labor while promoting safe and healthy working conditions. To further these goals, the IFBWW conducts projects that encourage trade union leadership skills that help create self-reliant, strong and democratic unions.

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