My global-keymap bindings for the Function keys F1-F12 do not seem to work on the gnome background. They work if I click on the top gnome panel. And also work when focus is on a window. I am using the latest archlinux packages - sawfish 1.8.2, gnome 3.2.1 fallback
(bind-keys global-keymap
"F1" '(switch-2-terminal) "F2" '(switch-2-emacs) "F3" '(switch-2-firefox) "F4" '(switch-2-gmail) ;; NOTE: F5 is usually refresh
)