http://www.emf-fem.orghttp://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/IndustriAll-a-new-direction-for-Europe%21<p class="MsoNormal">“IndustriAll European trade union – stands for <b>a change of course for Europe. </b>Europe needs sustainable industrial growth, more jobs and improved job security, greater participation rights for workers and citizens, and greater solidarity and fairness in distributing income and wealth in Europe!” declared Ulrich Eckelmann, the newly-elected General Secretary of the new European trade union federation.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/IndustriAll-European-trade-union-sees-the-light-of-day-and-elects-political-leadership<p class="MsoNormal">Today, at its Founding Congress in Brussels, the European trade union IndustriAll was created and elected its first leadership. </p><p>Ulrich ECKELMANN (IG Metall – DE) will lead the new organization. He received 99.2% of the votes cast. He will be supported by Bart SAMYN (ABVV-Metaal – B), Sylvain LEFEBVRE (FCE-CFDT – FR) and Luc TRIANGLE (ACV-CSC METEA – B), who were elected as Deputy General Secretaries.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Dissolution-of-the-EMF<p>The EMF officially ceased to exist today after being dissolved by the delegates at its Dissolution Congress in Brussels. The creation of a new federation made up of former EMF, ETUF-TCL and EMCEF affiliates and staff will take place tomorrow 16 May. </p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Final-Countdown-to-creation-of-Europe-s-largest-trade-union-federation-for-industry-and-manufacturing-workers-on-16th-May-2012<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">A new European trade union federation representing over <b>7 million workers</b> in Europe’s key industrial and manufacturing sectors will soon see the light of day. </p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/EMF-May-Day-Message<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Colleagues,</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Recent developments in Europe are a real cause for concern for the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF). Neo-liberalism, deregulation and rigid austerity measures are threatening to change the European project to promote peace and secure prosperity beyond all recognition. This is not the Social Europe that trade unions have always fought for - a Europe of sustainable growth, with more and safer jobs, a Europe whose core task is harmonisation of the differing living conditions and a fair distribution of income and wealth, a Europe with more involvement and more rights for its citizens and workers.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Huge-success-for-TU-and-civil-society-demonstration-against-Czech-Coalition-Government-on-21st-April<p class="MsoNormal">Over 100,000 participants took part in the demonstration organised by the trade union and civil society organisations on Saturday. The high attendance - it was the biggest demonstration since 1989 - was due to the developments on the Czech political scene and the fact that recent reforms implemented by Czech Government mean a further rise in costs for the whole population. </p><p>Photos to be found <a href="/Press/Picture-database/Huge-success-for-TU-and-civil-society-demonstration-against-Czech-Coalition-Government-on-21st-April" target="_self">here!</a></p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Alliance-of-OPEL-Vauxhall-and-PSA-TU-representatives<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(version française ci-dessous en PDF / deutsche PDF Fassung hierunter)</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Trade union and works council representatives of PSA and Opel/Vauxhall met in Brussels yesterday, under the auspices of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF), to discuss the “Alliance” between the two automotive manufacturers GM and PSA.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Call-for-support-for-Turkish-Crown-Cork-Workers<p class="MsoNormal">We have been informed by our affiliate, Birlesik Metal-Is, that the totally unacceptable situation regarding the violation of workers’ rights and managerial behaviour at Crown Cork Kocaeli and Osmaniye sites is persisting, even worsening. </p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Release-of-SPMK-President-Hasan-Abazi<p class="MsoNormal">.News has reached the EMF that Hasan has now been released. He conveyed his thanks for the help and solidarity messages he received during his incarceration. The EMF also sends thanks to its affiliates for their involvement and pressure with regards to getting Hasan out of jail. </p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/The-General-Strike-on-29-March-was-a-great-success<p><b>News from Spain on the General Strike 29th March 2012:</b></p><p>10.2 million workers supported the general strike, and 4 million people participated in the 111 demonstrations held all over the country.</p><p>The general strike called by CCOO and UGT on 29 March against labour reform and in defense of public services has been a resounding success.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/PSA-and-GM-Alliance-European-Worker-Representatives-Coordinate<p class="MsoNormal">Leading figures from the European worker representative bodies of Peugeot-Citroën and GM Europe have agreed, under the auspices of the EMF, to assess the consequences of the alliance between PSA and GM. </p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Mittal-Digging-a-grave-for-one-of-the-flagships-of-the-European-steel-sector<p class="MsoNormal">This is what the workforce and the trade unions within the ArcelorMittal Group fear, and it is also what Mr. Mittal’s balance sheet leaves us to suppose. Since 2006, the Group has decided to temporarily idle 10 out of the 25 blast furnaces it owns in Europe and to close down several production units. It has axed 33,000 jobs in Europe, i.e. 25% of the workforce. Expenditure on R&D, which was already extremely low and well below that of its competitors, has been cut by a further 15%. The promised investments have not been made and have been restricted to plant maintenance.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/EMF-meeting-for-International-Women-s-Day-March-8-2012<p> <b>Photos of the PRO-GE / EMF event <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/proge/sets/72157629220056852/%20" target="_self">here! </a></b><br /><b>Plus <a href="http://www.proge.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=P01/Page/Index&n=P01_0.a&cid=1331046647358" target="_self">PRO-GE coverage</a> of the day in German. </b></p><p>Info on the event organised on the occasion of the International Women's Day 2012 by the EMF and PRO-GE and also on other activities taking place that day</p><p><a href="http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp" target="_self">Official website for International Women's Day 2012</a></p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/European-Trade-Union-Day-of-Action-a-resounding-success<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Trade unions in all 27 countries of the EU have taken part in decentralised actions today. The message they carried to EU leaders condemns the kind of governance that is sending us straight into a recession and proposes alternatives for employment and social justice.</p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">EMF/EMCEF and ETUF-TCL affiliates have mobilised widely, chiefly alongside their confederations. The Secretariats also took part, alongside other European industry federations, in the Brussels rally in front of the EU Council . </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">See here for<a href="http://www.etuc.org/a/9739" target="_self"> video of ETUC General Secretary </a>at the event and <a href="/Press/Picture-database/ETUC-European-Action-Day-29-February-Enough-is-Enough!" target="_self">EMF photos</a>.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Resolution-adopted-by-the-Joint-EMF-EMCEF-ETUF-TCL-Executive-Committee<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The right to strike is non-negotiable!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">For years European leaders have met regularly with the intent to save the financial industry and the banking system from total collapse. They have put up billions of tax payers’ money in a tireless effort to keep the goodwill of undemocratic rating agencies. The success of these gigantic rescue packages is slim and there is still no end to the crisis in sight.</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Creation-of-Europe-s-largest-trade-union-federation-for-industry-and-manufacturing-workers-is-well-on-track%21<p>National trade union leaders of the three European trade union federations EMF, EMCEF and ETUF:TCL have unequivocally signalled their readiness to join forces at their upcoming merger. Representing 8 million workers, this future new trade union federation is certain to make its voice heard and its actions felt in Europe! </p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Belgian-Unions-General-Strike-30-January-Success%21<p>The united front of Belgian unions (ABVV/FGTB, CSC/ACV, ACLVB/CGSLB) has deemed the strike organised 30 January a success. Actions took place across the country with good participation from the public and private sectors. </p><p><b>The EMF Exectuive Committee which met yesterday adopted the following declaration of solidarity <b>with the Belgian unions in their struggle against ruthless austerity measures: </b></b></p> <div class="object-right"> <a href="/Media/Files/EMF-Executive-Committee-adopt-Declaration-of-solidarity-30.1.2012-EN">EMF Executive Committee adopt Declaration of solidarity 30.1.2012 EN</a></div> <div class="object-right"> <a href="/Media/Files/EMF-Executive-Committee-adopt-Declaration-of-solidarity-30.1.2012-FR4">EMF Executive Committee adopt Declaration of solidarity 30.1.2012 FR</a></div> <div class="object-right"> <a href="/Media/Files/EMF-Executive-Committee-adopt-Declaration-of-solidarity-30.1.2012-DE4">EMF Executive Committee adopt Declaration of solidarity 30.1.2012 DE</a></div> <div class="object-right"> <a href="/Media/Files/EMF-Executive-Committee-adopt-Declaration-of-solidarity-30.1.2012-NL3">EMF Executive Committee adopt Declaration of solidarity 30.1.2012 NL</a></div>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/Countdown-to-foundation-of-the-new-European-industrial-workers-federation-EIWF<p>With the holding of a <b>Joint Executive Committee meeting on 31 January 2012</b>, the three merging organisations have reached a decisive step in the process of creating the new industrial workers’ federation.</p><p>The Joint Executive Committee will discuss and take decisions on the draft Statutes and draft Joint Policy Resolution for the Founding Congress.</p><p>The final steps will be the meetings of the respective decision-making bodies: the last <b>EMF Executive Committee on 14 May</b>, the <b>Dissolution Congresses of EMF, EMCEF and ETUF-TCL on 15 May</b> and the <b>Founding Congress of the EIWF on 16 May</b>.</p> <div class="object-right"><a href="/content/download/39454/297452/file/Dates of joint meetings EMF ETUF-TCL EMCEF - committees, executives and congresses EN.pdf" title="Dates of joint meetings EMF ETUF-TCL EMCEF - committees, executives and congresses EN.pdf 79.91 kB"><img src="/share/icons/crystal-admin/16x16_indexed/mimetypes/pdf.png" width="16" height="16" alt="Dates of joint meetings EMF ETUF-TCL EMCEF - committees, executives and congresses EN : 79.91 kB" title="Dates of joint meetings EMF ETUF-TCL EMCEF - committees, executives and congresses EN : 79.91 kB" /></a> </div><p>See all dates of joint meetings in the attached PDF</p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/EMF-and-Alstom-sign-European-Agreement<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Last week, Alstom management and EMF signed an agreement on social commitments during the transition period of the Alstom-Shanghai Electric Joint Venture on Boilers. The request for a European agreement is actually a direct result of the social dialogue between the Alstom European Works Forum and management on the social terms and conditions of this Joint venture. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The agreement, in French and English, is available <a href="http://www.eucoban.eu/EMF/Agreements/European-Framework-Agreements/Alstom-Social-Commitments-Shanghai-Electrics" target="_self">here.</a></p>http://www.emf-fem.org/Media/Latest-news/ARCELORMITTAL-Outcome-of-Social-Dialogue-Group-meeting-and-TU-follow-up<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The ArcelorMittal Social Dialogue Group (the joint management and trade union body) met, as scheduled, on 12^th January to discuss the current situation within the company and also the effects of the hugely successful European Action Day organised by the EMF and its affiliates on 7^th December 2011.</p>