(18 June 2009) The Members received presentations from David Tarren on progress with the report. A number of comments were made, and the importance of comparing general labour market with the gas sector and competitors (for skilled and qualified staff).
New studies on Skills and Renewables were pointed out. Using scenarios will be consider to indicate possible future developments.
Jane Pillinger introduced the cases studies she had worked on. Some cases have indicated the importance of (...)

(23 June 2009) The electricity social partners agreed a joint position on Corporate Social Responsibility 22 June 2009.
The position refers to the joint study Describing Developments in the European electricity industry – drivers for change 2007 and draws joint conclusions.
CSR is about commitments which go beyond respecting the law and recognized international standards. The Statement is the first continental and sectoral wide position that endorses the Global Reporting Initiative (...)

(15 June 2009) The Norwegian government published the English version of its CSR report. The report pushes for more companies to enter into global framework agreements with the trade union movement. - The Government asks that Norwegian companies actively work in favour of global framework agreements, based on the ILO core conventions and contributes to strengthening workers’ rights, it says in the paper. It also states that companies should considering ways of establishing some sort of (...)

The European Commission presented the agreement on the Emission Trading Scheme as reached between the Council and the European Parliament December 2008. It has become a complex piece of legislation with several different time frames, derogations, unfinished business and as it links with the proposals to share the burden of the efforts to reduce emissions. The European Commission will have to develop separate policies for example on the rules for the auctioning of emissions and on the (...)

(11 December 2008) Following the Conference on Demographic Change (14 November 2008) organised jointly by the trade unions and Eurelectric, the Conference presentations are now available on the public website of Eurelectric within the Events / Past EURELECTRIC Events folder (Login: change; Password: electricity).
The Toolkit / Best Practices Guide will shortly be available as a web based format in English, French, Czech and German at http://www.eurelectric.org/Demographic/w2wfrm.htm
(17 (...)

(11 December 2008) The Conference presentations are now available on the public website of Eurelectric within the Events / Past EURELECTRIC Events folder (Login: restructuring; Password: electricity)
(13 November 2008) Restructuring was the theme of a major conference organised by the European electricity social partners on the occasion of the publication of their joint restructuring toolkit. The toolkit stresses the importance of social dialogue and negotiations, anticipation and timely (...)

A representative of the European Commission DG Environment introduced the proposal for changes to the Emission Trading Scheme. He also commented on the proposals for a joint position put forward by Eurelectric. The trade union side commented on the presentation and underlined concerns about jobs, investments and also to address climate change. The trade union side will work on further proposals. The other issues discussed:
No agreement was reached yet over a joint statement on Corporate (...)

(Brussels, 9 June 2008) The employers and trade unions started an exchange of views on the social consequences of the European Commission’s proposals for the emission trading scheme after 2012. There is great concern on the social implications of the abandonment of free allocations for example and which measures will be taken to mitigate these consequences. Eurelectric and the trade unions agreed to consider this further and invite a representative of the European Commission to a future (...)

(Brussels, 12 March 2008) The social partners discussed the use of the equality toolkit. It is important to distribute it widely, and the expectation is that unions and employers discuss how it can be used to improve the situation for women and ensure a situation of equality is achieved. The social partners will consider the implementation and evaluation of agreements in a more general manner.
Other issues discussed concerned:
a progress report on the two projects demographic change and (...)

(1 February 2008) The electricity social dialogue committee agreed two projects on restructuring and on demographic change. The steering committees of both groups met to discuss the projects with the experts. They will prepare a toolkit, or best practice guide.
The experts for the Restructuring project are from the London Metropolitan University and its Work Life Research Institure. Jane Pillinger will do the work on the demographic change project (She was also responsible for the (...)