12 July, 2010
The 8th General Assembly of the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF) was held on 30 June-1 July in Paris, France, hosted by the organisation’s French affiliates within CFDT, CGT, FO and CFTC, with around 130 participants from various European countries.
According to the statutes of EMCEF, during the period between Congress’s, the General Assembly is convened as a forum to discuss important political issues with an authority to implement decisions taken by the Congress and to review EMCEF’s policies, without the right to change the statutes.
The General Assembly was attended by two guests, namely Kemal Özkan, Chemical and Rubber Industries Officer of ICEM and Peter Scherer, General Secretary of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF). Patrick Itschert, General Secretary of ITGLWF and ETUC:TCL could not be present in the meeting because of other obligations and sent his apologies.
EMCEF President Hubertus Schmoldt
In his opening speech, EMCEF President Hubertus Schmoldt pointed to the financial crisis, its effects on social issues and unemployment as well as joint European policies in the crisis environment. He particularly underlined mass youth unemployment in Europe, which is more than 20% on average, even around 40% in some European countries. Referring to the Presidium meeting which took place just before the General Assembly, Schmoldt explained the importance of the creation of a new European Industrial federation in the metal, chemical, energy, mine and textile sectors.
EMCEF General Secretary Reinhard Reibsch submitted his Secretariat report to the General Assembly on the following issues:
a. European Integration
i. Lisbon Treaty, new EU Council President, new EU Commission, EU integration process (Iceland, Croatia, Turkey)
ii. Belgium Presidency with an agenda of EU2020 Strategy, Financial Supervision, Social Issues, Energy and Climate Change, Strengthening EU’s external action
iii. Recent Elections in some EU countries, particularly in the UK and Hungary
iv. Important Changes by the Reform Treaty
v. Financial Policy
b. Activities of EMCEF Committees:
i. Industrial policy, health, safety and environment committee – implementation of REACH and ECHA, nanotechnology, climate change, impact of crisis
ii. Social dialogue committee – sectoral social dialogues in chemical, electricity, gas, extractive industries and pulp/paper sectors.
iii. European Works’ Councils committee – formation of new EWCs, renewal of list of country coordinators, joint work with EMF and ETUC:TCL
EMCEF Political Secretary Jorma Rusanen gave a report on the activities of the Collective Bargaining Committee. He highlighted the collective bargaining database developed through the Eurocob@n project, Europe-wide collective negotiations at sectoral and company levels and mandate procedures, discussions on EU’s Working Time Directive (WTD) and Posting Directive (PWD).
Delegates from Spain, the UK, France, Poland, Italy and Germany took the floor and raised their concerns on modification of two EU directives which could result in precariousness in employment, climate change, future of Europe’s energy sector through valorisation of national raw materials and reinforcing manufacturing jobs through innovation in the industries. The report of the Secretariat was unanimously adopted.
One major agenda item of the General Assembly was the creation of a new European Industrial Trade Union Federation by EMCEF, EMF and ETUF:TCL. President Hubertus Schmoldt explained the situation, by making reference to the resolution of the previous General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey in 2006 on closer cooperation with other European Industry Federations and the decision of the EMCEF Congress in Prague, Czech Republic in 2008 towards creation of a new European Federation as well as a number of decisions of the Presidium and Executive Committee.
EMF General Secretary Peter Scherer reported that creation of a new organisation is a political project rather than a technical one at a time when all the partners are in good situations in terms of finances and organisational structures which give great opportunity to focus on political aspects commonly affecting the whole manufacturing chain. The EMF was reported to be prepared to continue to work under one united umbrella organisation in Europe in the future which would make industrial unions much more powerful vis-à-vis employers and politics.
A new European Industrial Federation, will provide an opportunity for each European trade union federation to share its strengths, in order to become a common force. In this period of massive crisis for industry, the new federation will aim first to meet the needs of local trade union and company representatives at European level. It is also mentioned that the identity of the 3 founding federations should therefore be reflected in the composition of the leadership of the new federation. The aim is also foreseen to:
a. create a new industrial federation, and therefore no fusion/absorption;
b. build around an ambitious, common platform;
c. optimising strengths and complementarities, through the right balance between “pooling certain elements/synergies”
d. while maintaining a strong sectoral identity, especially in view of the fact that EMCEF has the widest sectoral coverage of all 3 federations.
It was also noted that the Presidents and General Secretaries of the three federations, at their meeting on 25 March 2010, came out in favour of setting up a joint working group. This working group will in its composition reflect the regional diversity of the three organisations and be composed of representatives from the affiliates who carry a political responsibility. The three general secretaries will function as the secretariat for this working group. In this way the need for conducting deliberations in a transparent and democratic manner will be ensured. The respective statutory bodies, as well as all affiliated organisations, will be informed and consulted systematically for each step of the works.
The Presidium’s motion on the future European federation was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly.
The General Assembly also adopted the following resolutions:
a. Mandate Procedures proposed by Presidium and Executive Committee
b. Pensions, retirement and lifelong work – an EMCEF policy on demography proposed by Collective Bargaining Committee
c. Multinational Company Policy proposed by European Works Councils Committee
d. Climate Change Policies proposed by Industrial Policy Committee
e. Instrumentalisation of Social Dialogue on European and national level proposed by Social Dialogue Committee
f. Protection and development of the European social model depends on the protection and extension of employment rights worldwide proposed by FITEQA-CC.OO. & FIA-UGT (with some changes by the Motions Committee)
g. Dialogue with the Regional Energy Trade Unions Network of South Eastern Europe (RETUNSEE) proposed by Turkish union Petrol-Is (with some modification by Motions Committee)
h. Gaza blockade, separation wall and solidarity with Palestinian workers and their unions proposed by Turkish union Petrol-Is (a new text prepared by the Motions Committee was adopted) The General Assembly condemned the "brutal and unacceptable attack by Israeli forces on the peaceful humanitarian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza."
i. The Worsening Crisis – Europe at Risk – an ETUC resolution was passed
The General Assembly ended with the closing speech of EMCEF President Hubertus Schmoldt. Defining the General Assembly as an historic one, he announced that on the basis of the mandate given by the General Assembly, the Working Group for the creation of a new European Industrial Federation will be organised on 8 July. EMCEF will be represented by a group to be composed of its President, General Secretary and five other members representing different regions. It was also announced that on 29 September there will be a demonstration organised by ETUC in Brussels where EMCEF affiliates should also be present.