5-TERM IMF SECRETARY-GENERAL
Labor lion Malentacchi to retire in spring
Marcello Malentacchi is fluent in six languages, and he firmly believes the fight for economic and social justice – no matter how you say it – cannot be won without international solidarity.
"Your union has a long and proud tradition of involvement in the international labor community," Malentacchi said at the UAW’s 34th Constitutional Convention in 2006. "It is a tradition based on the universal ideal that the fight for economic and social justice cannot be limited to one nation or one people, and it cannot be achieved without international solidarity."
After 20 years as secretary-general of the Geneva-based International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), Malentacchi will retire this spring.
He was born in 1947 near Grosseto, Italy, the son of an agricultural laborer. At 17 he left for Sweden, and was hired on Volvo’s assembly line where he joined the Swedish Metalworkers' Union.
Malentacchi and UAW President Ron Gettelfinger met in January to discuss the IMF’s future and how to more effectively coordinate international efforts in union building and organizing.
"Marcello Malentacchi is a true champion of international labor solidarity, and he will be greatly missed," said Gettelfinger. "With the global economic crisis, union solidarity and coordination across borders is more important than ever."
The IMF has 207 affiliated member unions (including the UAW) in 101 countries, representing nearly 25 million workers in the metalworking industries.
