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20 October, 2008
The ICEM and Paris-based International Energy and Mines Organisation (IEMO) were both observers at a trade union conference last week on natural gas in Haugesund, Norway. The conference, 12-14 October, was organised by trade unions from five countries that are important to the gas industry, both in terms of supply and production in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Unions affiliated to both ICEM and IEMO in Norway, as well as ICEM-affiliated Russian Oil and Gas Workers’ Union (ROGWU), the FNME-CGT of France, and one union from Algeria invited other delegations. Organisers of the conference also included delegations form Belgium, Spain, and Germany.
Participants at the Natural Gas Conference in Norway
The discussions were chaired by Lars Myhre of Norway’s Industri Energi Union, also the Chairperson of the ICEM Energy Industry Section.
The conference was opened by Leif Sande, President of Industri Energi. Each of the organising trade unions made major interventions covering gas production and consumption, including forecasts for the future, safety, health, and environmental issues, social questions such as job security, social discrimination, and wages and working conditions.
ICEM, represented by Energy Officer Jim Catterson, gave a presentation on ICEM activities in that sector in a joint session with IEMO’s Alain Simon. Both organisations expressed a wish that future discussions and conferences should be open to all relevant member trade unions of the two international organisations.
Following detailed discussions in an editorial board, which included representatives of each of the organising trade unions, a proposed charter of Transnational Social Standards for the Gas Sector, and a Declaration on International Trade Union Solidarity, were considered. Both were accepted as working documents that still need further work before adoption can come.
Delegates saw the conference as an important beginning to an increased focus on this crucial sector. ROGWU was asked to coordinate follow up and future work.
Outside the formal discussions, conference participants were welcomed by the mayor of Haugesund at a reception, and made a visit to the head office and control centre of Gassco, the Norwegian state-owned gas transport company. The company is responsible for gas transportation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and through export pipelines to mainland Europe and the UK.