People First in the Global Economy

The Korean Federation of Bank and Financial Workers Union is challenging 
the powers of the International Monetary Fund to dictate economic and 
social policies to governments. It has instructed its lawyers to prepare a 
claim to be tested in the International Court of Justice (World Court) in 
the Hague.

Last year 50,000 finance workers lost their jobs in South Korea, labour 
market `flexibility' has put many workers at a disadvantage, 20,000 
enterprises have gone bankrupt and unemployment has reached record levels.

"One of the most critical aspects of the economic crisis in Korea is the 
IMF's role", Kim Hyoung-Keun from the Korean Federation told the 24th World 
Congress of the international trade union federation, FIET, in Sydney.

FIET, the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional 
and Technical Employees, represents 435 unions with 10 million members in 
136 countries including Australia* and covers workers in retail and 
commerce, banking and insurance and property services.

The conference was held in the Sydney Town Hall from March 14-18, under the 
them of People First in the Global Economy.

"The [International Monetary] Fund has gone from assisting countries 
suffering short term liquidity problems to advocating multi-national 
capitalism and unlimited deregulation", said Kim Hyoung-Keun.

French and Australian trade union delegates spoke out against big bank 
mergers and their impact on jobs and services.

Delegates discussed the Asian financial crisis, the impact of globalisation 
and the financial crisis on Latin America, the US labour market, the New 
Zealand experience of deregulation, the introduction of the euro.

Various perspectives on the economic crisis were given by delegates from 
Brazil, Russia, Thailand, Korea, Japan and Africa.

Monday lunchtime delegates took to the streets for a "Dump the Debt" rally 
in Sydney Square in support of the global campaign for the cancellation of 
sovereign debt.

One day was spent discussing People First in the Information 
Society.

"The International union structures have an important role in making sure 
that multinationals do not exploit the advancements in technology to the 
detriment of working people by chasing the lowest employment costs across 
national boundaries", FIET General Secretary Philip Jennings told 
delegates.

"... the union movement itself cannot stand still or fail to take advantage 
of the new technologies. They offer us the capacity to communicate and to 
campaign in ways we have not had available before. The union movement has 
the challenge of harnessing the benefits of the new information age for the 
benefit of workers around the globe", said Mr Jennings.

New International

Congress voted 523 to two in favour of the formation in January 2000 of a 
"New International for a New Millennium", to be called the Union Network 
International (UNI).

The Communications International, the International Graphical Federation, 
and the Media and Entertainment International will be voting to join the 
new International at their own conferences in September and October.

"The move to create UNI follows the growing revolution in communication 
technology and the breaking down of traditional barriers between industries 
in the face of globalisation", said a FIET statement.

Unity was a theme throughout the Conference.

The Conference statement urged "all trade unions to be united at all 
levels, and where possible and necessary to merge at various levels. They 
must develop stronger fraternity with workers and co-operate closely with 
other trade unions and non-governmental organisations sharing the same 
aspirations.

"In today's interdependent world, there is a need for trade unions all over 
the world to be united in the struggle for workers' rights, social justice, 
democracy and a more equitable distribution of wealth that workers helped 
to create...

"Trade union solidarity at the international level is critical to counter 
the influence of multinationals."

Delegates heard reports from two other FIET conferences that took place in 
the days preceding the World Conference: the 8th Apro-Fiet (Asia Pacific 
regional organisation of FIET) Conference from March 9-12 and the 6th FIET 
World Women's Conference from March 12-13, in Sydney.

A whole day was devoted to the question of organising and campaigning with 
speakers giving first hand accounts of experiences.

The final day centred around People First in Multinationals with 
speakers reporting on programs regarding child labour, global union co-
operation, works councils, and other approaches to labour-capital 
relations.

One of the striking features of the conference was the breadth of 
contributions with unions ranging from Communist-led to the far right.

The decisions overall on building international co-operation and making 
globalisation work for people were progressive and of benefit for workers.

*FIET has six Australian affiliates: the Association of Professional 
Engineers, Scientists and Managers (APESMA); the Australian Services Union 
(ASU); the Finance Sector Union of Australia (FSU); the Australian Liquor, 
Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU); the Shop, Distributive 
and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) and the Australian Hairdressers and 
Wigmakers and Hairworkers Employees' Federation  (AHWHEF).