The IUF: What it is, what it does
The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association (IUF) is an international federation of trade unions representing workers in:
  • Agriculture and plantations
  • The processing and manufacture of food and beverages
  • Hotels, restaurants, tourism and catering services
  • All stages of tobacco processing
From its founding in 1920, international labour solidarity has been the IUF‘s guiding principle. This principle is implemented through:
  • Building solidarity at every stage of the food chain
  • Global action to defend human, democratic and trade union rights
  • International union organization organizing within transnational companies (TNC’s).
Through,
Strengthening Affiliates
The IUF exist to strengthen member unions through mutual support. It does this through:

  • Assisting affiliates in recruitment and organizing drives and in conflicts with employers and governments

  • Coordinating and implementing solidarity and support actions

  • Combating all forms of discrimination and promoting equality at the workplace, in society and in the trade union movement

  • Ongoing trade union education programs to help build the strength and independence of affiliated unions

  • Research and publication
International Recognition and Collective Bargaining

From the planting of seeds, the harvesting of crops, the processing and manufacture of food, beverages, and tobacco products through to the catering and tourism sectors, no worker in the IUF sectors is unaffected by globalization.

The process is being driven by the transnational companies which increasingly dominate world production, trade and investment and set the international social and politic agenda.

The IUF seek to create an international union to counterweight to the power of the TNCs. We fight for union recognition at every level, including international level. We have won international recognition and agreement on global respect for trade union right with leading companies within the IUF sector. In our struggle for the recognition of the IUF and its affiliates at international level, we are working to extend these agreements to other TNCs.

In today’s global economy our goal must be internationally negotiated right and standards within global companies.

Defending Human, Democratic and Trade Union Rights

For the IUF, the active defense of trade union, human and democratic right is not an adjunct to our industrial work but an integral part of our ongoing activity. Defending these rights is an essential class issue for the labour movement, because workers cannot organize in defense of their interests, nor maintain the gain they have achieved, when fundamental rights are violated or not secure.

The IUF gives active support to movements everywhere struggling against oppression. We are committed to building alliances with human rights, environmental, consumer and other organization in the civil society who share our objectives and principles.
Strong Union – Safe Work – Good Food

The IUF rules lay down the basic principles of the IUF food policy, above all our commitment to ensure an adequate safe, affordable food for all. As global union federation, we believe that there is there is a direct link between union strength, consumer safety, public health and environment. Where workers are denied the right to form a union and exercise oversight over health and safety, there can be no guarantees of safe food for consumers. Building trade union power in the workplace in society is thus an indispensable precondition for reforming the way food is process and consumed. We are committed to dignified life for those who plant, harvest, process, prepare and serve the food we all depend for life. The IUF and its affiliates are therefore active at international and national level on food policy issues including food safety and quality, food security and international trade and investment.