Report from the high level conference
The ETUC gathered the European industry federations in the metal, chemical, transport and food sectors this morning for a discussion on low carbon industrial policies.
John Monks, ETUC General Secretary, introduced the seminar by encouraging the participants to think back one hundred years in time to when the world had few territories without European influence. The audiences could recall a few such territories Japan, Korea, Iran and Egypt.
Europe was at that time keen to use the natural resources available around the world and also today the world leaders are fighting for the access to resources.
John Monks ended by saying that all jobs can be greener and there is today a need for promoting the genious of creativity instead of bank wizards. The trade unions should have the ambition to develop the skills of workers as the technologies in European industry are changing.
The EMF stated that a technological leap, especially in the steel sector, is needed to achieve the European goal of 80% cut in emissions by 2050. Such a demand is included in the EMF paper on a new deal for steel.
While there is an increase of precarious work around Europe along with environmental degredation the opposite is needed for a sustainable development of European industry.
EMCEF stressed the need of organising workers in emerging sectors, such as the energy producing sectors, in order for the trade unions to maintain influence and bargaining power.
ETF focused its presentation on three main points; the unsustainable situation in the European transport industry, the lack of initiatives from businesses and the need for promoting cooperation in the industry instead of competition and finally the role of the consumer, both the passengers and the freight transporters when thinking green transport.
EFFAT stressed that environmentally minded behaviour should pay off financially. Consumers need to be able to trust labels that claim that food products are environmentally friendly. What is also needed is a label that also takes into account social criteria.
Hunger and poverty are also behind negative climate change and here the trade unions can play a role when improving the lives of workers.
Jo Leinen, Member of the European Parliament (PES), had the last word and he said that COP15 is the beginning of a new world order and that unions should find their places as promoters of better opportunities for workers when contributing to sustainable development in European industry.
