(Brussels, 21 November 2008) The European Court of Justice has limited the possibilities of trade unions to defend the interests of their members in the cases of Laval and Viking. The ECJ did not recognise the fundamental nature of the right to strike and gave preference to the market freedoms. This is unacceptable is the strong message of a European conference on the right to strike and minimum service in the electricity sector organised by PSI-Europe and Hungarian affiliate VdSzSz. The European trade union demands to reverse this situation are supported: social clause in the Treaty, strengthening of the Posted Workers Directive and increase coordination of collective bargaining.

EPSU’s Jan Willem Goudriaan stressed the European context of energy policy with reference to the internal market, emission trading system, strategic energy review and social dialogue in gas and electricity. “The European Union level is a new level for trade union reaction and demands. We need a strong voice of workers and create a common culture of action.” The influence of the European level on national labour legislation and national industrial relations, examples are the Laval and Viking cases, underline that further.

Conference participants also reflected on the wage systems in different countries. Compensation for inflation and a fair share of productivity increases and profits are a central demand of the energy unions. The high wages and exorbitant bonuses of managers were criticised. They have contributed to increased inequality in society,

Other speakers concentrated on the right to energy and the petition to obtain 1 million signatures to force the governments and Commission to recognise the right in the European Union.

Apart from over 100 Hungarian delegates of the VDSZSZ union branches, other participants included PSI-subregional secretary, EPSU standing committee vice presidents Reszo Gal and Jan Ruden (SEKO), president of the sectoral social dialogue committee for the gas sector Didier Baur (CGT-FNME). Delegations from Austria (GdG), Czech Republic (Echo), France (CGT-FNME), Italy (Filcem) Portugal (Sindel) Russia (Elektroprofsojoez) Slovakia (SOZE) Slovenia (SDE) Sweden (SEKO) highlighted how they organised the right to strike. The conference took place 20 November 2008.

Reszo Gal was re-elected president and dr.Szilágyi József from TIVISZ (EON Titász) vice-president.