Trade unions announce European-wide Action against Siemens’ AG job cuts

Thirty trade union representatives and members of the European Works Council from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia and the UK have met today for a coordination meeting organised by the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF). The meeting concluded in the announcement of European-wide support for the demonstration to be organised in Erlangen, Germany on 23rd July.

EMF welcomes agreement on temporary agency workers

- Strong resistance against proposals for Working Time Directive

The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) welcomes the agreement reached by the Employment and Social Affairs Council on a revision of the Temporary Agency Work Directive.

Global Action Day against precarious work

The meeting of the Executive Committee of the European Metalworkers' Federation confirmed the Global Action Day on 7 October 2008 against precarious work.

ArcelorMittal & Unions sign Groundbreaking Global Agreement on Occupational Health and Safety

Luxembourg, 4 June 2008

The world’s largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, and trade unions representing its employees across the globe yesterday signed a new and groundbreaking agreement to further improve health and standards throughout the company.

Shipbuilding sector is looking for 11.000 new recruits every year

Conference on Demographic Challenge of European Shipyards -

The Sector is looking for 11.000 new recruits every year

On 5th June 2008, the social partners in the European shipbuilding and ship repair sector, CESA and the EMF, will organise an HR workshop in Koudekerke, The Netherlands, with the support of the European Commission, to discuss demographic changes and future skills requirements in their industry.

European metalworkers and auto manufacturers urge EU to better balance trade negotiations

The European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) and the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) oppose the conditions for Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) proposed within the framework of the current WTO ‘Doha’ Round. These conditions, specified by the NAMA secretariat this week, risk undermining the competitiveness of the EU industries, putting pressure on production costs and employment.

Eurofer and EMF common position on Commission climate change package

Common position of the Steel industry’s employers and trade unions warns Commission climate change package, if not improved, would put European steel industry and tens of thousands of jobs at stake

Joint statement of European Metalworkers’ Federation and European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries

Rio Tinto workers express grave concern over the future of 20,000 jobs

Action Day 23 April 2008 in Strasbourg (European Parliament)

Today, the workers of the Rio Tinto group in Europe are organising an Action Day in front of the European Parliament to demand a revision of the proposals issued by Rio Tinto with regards to the sell-out of large parts of its activities.

Successful outcome of Dacia strike

After a 3-week strike, employees at the Renault Group’s Romanian plant, Dacia, have accepted the new offer from management and called off their strike.

The struggle of Dacia workers is the struggle of all European workers

The EMF supports the current struggle of the workers of Renault’s Romanian subsidiary, Dacia, to obtain a wage increase and improvement in their working conditions.

Announcement of the 2nd European Shipyard Week

As in all high-tech sectors, success is first of all based on knowledge and innovation. European Shipyards’ highly-skilled workforce is a key factor in ensuring productivity, innovation and competitiveness. The European Shipyard Week 2008 – entitled “Sea your future” – aims at making young graduates and highly-skilled workers aware of the exciting opportunities resulting from the dynamic evolution of shipyards. Modern shipbuilding offers manifold perspectives, posting new challenges regarding skills and adaptability in a high-tech job environment.

EMF demands planning security for the energy-intensive industries

The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) supports the demand made by the EU Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen to come to a quick decision regarding which energy-intensive industries are to be exempted from the auctioneering of CO2 certificates planned for 2013 onwards. The Vice-President of the European Commission called on the heads of state taking part in the up-coming EU summit to bring forward the deadline for a decision. The EMF demands free allocation of emission rights for those energy-intensive industries whose process-related production would barely allow any further emission reduction.

The EMF expresses support to shipyard workers in Tuzla, Turkey

The European Metalworkers Federation wrote today to Commissioners Vladimir Spidla and Olli Rehn -responsible respectively for Social Affairs and Enlargement - to draw their attention to the worrying, hazardous health and safety conditions and trade union rights violations in the Tuzla Shipyards in Turkey.

Workers in Tuzla were informed of the death of two of their colleagues on 21st February 2008. The two employees were said to have suffered smoke poisoning and subsequently died from heart failure, one at the workplace, the other one in hospital later the same day. These deaths bring the number of workers who have died at this Turkish shipyard in the last eight months to 18.

Nokia declaration

by trade union leaders from Metalli, TEK, UIL, TU, the IG Metall, and European Metalworkers’ Federation in respect of Nokia corporate policy

Disconnected workers at Nokia declare lack of faith in their company

“Nokia is no longer a social company”, trade unionists acknowledged at today’s coordination meeting, which took place at the EMF in Brussels.

Retracing the way Nokia announced, on 15th January, its intention to close the Bochum site, workers’ representatives came to the conclusion that Nokia made a mockery of its obligation to inform and consult its employees in line with the EU Directive on European Works Councils and German law.

Photos available at: http://www.eup-images.com (by Horst Wagner, photojournalist).