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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2009 - 8:12:35 AM |
THE European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) is demanding a common
European strategy for the future of shipbuilding in Europe.
The trade union organisation’s shipbuilding committee is seeking urgent
action to protect the industry in the face of the global economic and
shipping crisis which has seen newbuild orders dry up.
European shipbuilders are seen as particularly vulnerable due to
relatively high costs compared with Asian competitors. Several yards in
Germany have already gone into bankruptcy while others have laid off
workers. The EMF contrasts this with the state support being received
by yards in China and South Korea.
“European shipbuilding has been exemplary in recent years in developing
a common approach and a common European industrial policy programme:
LeaderSHIP 2015,” said EMF general secretary Peter Scherrer. “The
absence of a European response to this crisis is staggering. Retreating
behind national borders now would put the future of shipbuilding in
Europe into serious danger.
EMF Shipbuilding Sector Committee chairman Heino Bade: “Without a
common European strategy for shipbuilding thousands of jobs will be
lost and industrial capacity will be destroyed. Europe cannot risk
losing such a strategic sector, its know-how, its highly skilled
workforce and its capacity to provide green products for green
transport solutions.
The union argues that the future of shipbuilding in Europe is at stake.
“We cannot and will not accept that Europe loses this important
industrial sector.”
The EMF and its member organisations were willing to play their part in
developing a common European strategy for the shipbuilding sector, the
unions said.
“We are calling on companies, shipowners, the European shipbuilders’
association, national governments, the European Parliament, the
European Commission and the European Council to act now,” the union
said.
The EMF declaration, issued in Berlin and representing trade union
representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Finlan, Spain,
Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and UK, calls for a European strategy that
includes no redundancies this year or in 2010, intensification of
research and development, developing new markets in environmental
protection and implementation of the LeaderShip 2015 project.
The EMF statement says that qualified and skilled workers, who were
already in short supply, must be retained.
A surge in precarious forms of employment such as fixed-term contracts,
temporary agency work and outsourcing must be avoided.
Social standards for workers in the European shipbuilding industry must
also be agreed and implemented. Principles of corporate social
responsibility should contribute to the sustainable development of
shipbuilding in Europe and lead to a harmonisation of working
conditions in European yards.
Source:Ocnus.net 2009
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