World Federation for the Metallurgic Industry
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The World Federation for the Metallurgic Industry (French: Fédération mondiale de la métallurgie, FMM) was a global union federation representing workers in the metalworking industry.
History
The federation was established at a meeting in Essen, in August 1920, as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions of Metal Workers. It held its first congress in November 1921 in Turin, when it agreed its statutes. It established offices in Utrecht, and affiliated to the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions.[1][2]
By 1934, the federation had affiliates in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia, with a total of 96,656 members.[2] By 1979, this had grown to 500,000 members.[3]
The federation voted to dissolve in 1983, believing that, with members in eight countries, it could not achieve effective action.[4] Although it undertook no further activity, on 14 October 1985, it was officially merged with the International Federation for the Graphical Industries, the International Federation of Christian Miners' Unions, and the World Federation of Energy, Chemical and Various Industry Workers' Unions, forming the World Federation of Industry Workers.[5]
Affiliates
In 1979, the following unions were affiliated, along with eight indirectly affiliated unions in Asia, and some members in general unions in Latin America:[3]
| Union | Country | Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Fraction of the Union of Metal, Mining and Energy | Austria | 10,000 |
| Christian Metalworkers' Union of Switzerland | Switzerland | 21,000 |
| Christian Union of Belgian Metalworkers | Belgium | 159,000 |
| Federation des Travailleurs de la Métallurgie, des Mines et des Produits Chimiques | Canada | |
| Federacion Ecuatoriana de Trabajadores Metalurgicos y Afinas | Ecuador | 10,000 |
| Indian Federation of Metal and Engineering Workers | India | 65,000 |
| Industrial Workers' Union CNV | Netherlands | 35,000 |
| Industrial Workers' Union NKV | Netherlands | 58,000 |
| Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions | Luxembourg | 3,500 |
| Solidaridad de Obreros de Catalunya | Spain | |
| Swiss Federation of Protestant Trade Unions | Switzerland | 5,000 |
Membership
General Secretaries
- Arthur Bertinchamps
- Willy Goeminne
- F. W. M. Spit
Presidents
- Jules Coeck
- 1969: Rene Javaux
- 1972: G. Heiremans