Jyrki Raina, IMF General Secretary
IN A SPEECH given in Buenos Aires in late November, during a congress of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers’ Union (ICEM), Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of the International Federation of Machinists (IMF), discussed the threats facing labor worldwide and urged “a new united global movement for workers” and “a new era of global solidarity.” His remarks are presented below.
by Jyrki Raina, IMF General Secretary
Dear colleagues, it’s an honour and pleasure for me to bring you the greetings of the International Metalworkers’ Federation IMF. If the affiliates of the ICEM, IMF and ITGLWF so decide, in June 2012 in Copenhagen, we will altogether found a new global union organisation of 50 million industrial workers in 140 countries.
This new organization will combine the workers from mining and production of oil and gas, to electric power production and distribution, to the manufacturing of metals, chemicals, [and] textiles, to all kind of consumer products. This is a strategically important and powerful chain.
We will use this united power of workers to make sure that every worker has the right to join a union and get the protection of a collective agreement. We will fight together against trade union rights violations by companies and governments with massive and innovative campaigns.
We will make the case for the manufacturing and basic industries as the engine of national economies. Industry is the backbone for the creation of good quality jobs with decent working conditions. A solid industrial base also helps to fund quality public services . . .
During the past three years, almost 10 million industrial jobs disappeared in the world. All of you have had your share of the pain. The workers did not cause the global financial and economic crisis. Now it is time to regulate the financial markets in the whole world to make sure that this mess will never happen again. It is time for an international tax on financial transactions. Let us mobilise worldwide to ensure that the finance sector pays its part and does what it should do: support the real economy, not destroy it.
The crisis continues especially in Europe and in North America. This is of great concern for workers. Governments in many countries are using the crisis to weaken social protection and to attack trade union rights. We have to continue to mobilise. Austerity packages are not the way out of the crisis. They will lead to a vicious circle and a new recession. Despite the problems in public finances, we need to invest in creation of good quality jobs and sustainable economic growth, to achieve a long-term positive circle.
There is something fundamentally wrong with our world today. Or what do you say about these figures?
- 200 million people are unemployed in the world, the highest level in history
- 80% of the world’s population has no social security, no health care, no pensions
- 40% have an income of less than two dollars a day, that is, less than 600 dollars a year
No wonder that people are angry. 2011 will remain in history as a year when people took to the streets. In Europe, trade unions have mobilized in a number of countries. The Occupy movement spread from the U.S. all over the world. In North Africa and [the] Middle East, revolutions and uprisings have highlighted the true problems of our world today: poverty, unemployment, inequality, social injustice, lack of democracy and lack of hope for a better life. We are supporting trade unions in Tunisia and Egypt to become pillars of the hopefully democratic new societies. This is a long and difficult process.
But a better life is possible. Now our challenge is to channel the spreading expressions of anger of people into a broad progressive movement for change. We need to build political and social alliances and fight not only for the interests of our members, but for a better life for all citizens. That will also enhance our legitimacy and role as a leading voice for those wanting a world built upon social justice. This means getting from the defensive to an offensive, this means a global change of direction.
Dear colleagues, we also need to take care of our power base, our members. The sad reality is that in Europe, where [the] trade union movement started, the average unionisation rate has dropped to 20%. In developing countries, typically only 3-5% of the workers are union members. Recruitment of new members and especially young workers must become a top priority for all unions.
But organising is not always easy. Trade union rights are under attack. Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world for being a trade unionist . . . During the past 25 years, more than 2,500 unionists have been killed and murdered, 50 just last year, local and national-level representatives like you. In South Korea, union leaders are thrown into jail for participating in strikes and demonstrations. In the United States, 90% of companies launch an anti-union campaign when a union tries to organise workers in a plant.
In a globalized world without borders, we have to join the forces of workers [across] continents, to fight for good jobs, for the right to join a union, for decent wages and working hours, for a better life for working people and their families all over the world. There is change in the air even in China, where workers have protested against exploitation and achieved considerable wage increases. We have to act also in China.
Dear colleagues, with the creation of new united global movement for workers in the manufacturing industries, mining and energy, we will launch a new era of global solidarity. We need to use the full potential of all of you, of all the millions of workers that we represent. We will together build a democratic and dynamic new movement, in which all of you can participate. In addition to a global Executive Committee, our regional offices and project coordinators will make sure the new global union remains close to its members.
Therefore let us together take this bold step into the future.
I wish you a good Congress and best success in your valuable work in the workplaces around the world.
GLOBAL SOLIDARITY FOREVER!
