(29 June 2009) Following a presentation of the contents of the 3rd energy package by a representative of Eurogas, a lively discussion took place around the implications from a social perspective of the Independent Transmission Operator. The social partners noted the importance of consulting the social partners when developing interpretative notes by the European Commission. An exchange took place on the implications of smart meters for companies and workers. The employment effects can be (...)
(20 March 2009, Brussels) Socila Dialogue update - social partners essential to clear long term energy plan. A representative of the European Commission presented the progress that was made under the Strategic Energy Review. The Commission is considering what the energy system of 2050 should look like, and then using these estimates to consider what steps are needed to arrive there. The employers and trade union representatives stressed that this should reflect the employment and skills (...)
(18 November 2008) The European Commission has not recognised the social aspects of the Strategic Energy Review. The gas social partners have drawn attention in their discussions with the European Commission to the problems of skill shortages and the need for continued social dialogue.
This can not be found back in the recently published Strategic Energy Review. Jan Willem Goudriaan adds: "The Commission completely ignores that the lack of qualified and skilled workers can have an impact (...)
The trade unions and the employers for the European Gas Industry (Eurogas) met to discuss a wide range of issues. They reflected on the amendments to the proposed Gas Directive (Internal market) of the European Parliament. The trade unions proposed to jointly request the Council to support the amendments related to employment and working conditions. Eurogas will reflect on this. Related to the internal market and future development of the internal market for gas is also the forth-coming (...)
(18 April 2008) The following issues were considered by the social partners in the European gas industry:
The internal market for the gas sector. It was not possible to find agreement over a joint letter regarding the social consequences of the Commission proposals. This will be discussed further between the secretariats.
Maxime Cerutti of BusinessEurope presented the Violence at Work agreement as agreed between ETUC and the European employers organisations. The social partners agreed (...)
(11 February 2008) A major item of discussion was the 3rd package of liberalisation of the internal market for electricity and gas. Eurogas presented the views on the different parts of the package such as the gas directive, the European Regulatory Agency and the access to transmission networks. The trade union side commented underlining the importance of addressing the social dimension, impact on workers and the need for transparency and democracy with the regulator. The social partners (...)
(16 November 2007) The proposals of the Commission on opening up the market for gas were the main topic of discussion in the European social dialogue committee gas. The employers and trade union representatives agreed that the Commission proposals take insufficient account of the implications on employment in the gas sector. The social partners are concerned that the proposals, and especially on ownership unbundling, will contribute to worsen the job perspectives in the gas industry. (...)
The social partners in the European gas sector
Agreed a joint statement with the conclusions they draw from the employment study done by EcoTec for the European Commission (to read the EcoTec study, click here). The statement notes the problems liberalisation has brought for employment in the sector. It recognises outsourcing as a major challenge with which unions and employers have to deal and it establishes the need to develop the analysis further and gather more data.The statement (...)
The social partners in the European gas sector expressed concerns over the lack of a social dimension in the energy package (of 10 January 2007), the need to inform the social partners of the impact assessments and to consult on the new measures being prepared for the internal market. We also raise the results of the EcoTec study with the European Commission. To read the letter (...)
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