Addressing equality and diversity, a joint task say electricity employers and unions

The employers and trade union representatives were committed in addressing equality and diversity issues during the joint seminar 14 December 2004. The report prepared for the social partners was presented by Prof. Fairbrother of the University of Cardiff as were several cases from ESB (Ireland), Iberdrola (Spain) and Eon Hungary. David Foden of the Dublin Foundation presented a recent study on equality plans and the representatives of UNICE (employers, Therese de Liederkerke) and ETUC (trade unions, Catelene Passchier) engaged in lively discussion on the views of the intersectoral social partners.

The seminar was concluded by representatives of Eurelectric and the unions.
Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU Deputy General Secretary, argued “following the joint statement and the study we have to focus on practical implementation and important areas such as the impact on women of restructuring in the new Member States, tools to reduce the gender pay gap and looking at issues such as equality councils, equality plans and equality audits, examples of which were provided during the seminar.” The sectoral social dialogue committee will discuss this further on 15 December in its plenary meeting. Summary of the report and recommendations is attached below.

Contributions and presentation will become available on the website www.eurelectric.org, Username: Opportunity - Password: Diversity