Trade union representatives of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) demand a common European strategy for the future of shipbuilding in Europe.
“European shipbuilding has been exemplary in recent years in developing a common approach and a common European industrial policy programme: LeaderSHIP 2015. The absence of a European response to this crisis is staggering. Retreating behind national borders now would put the future of shipbuilding in Europe into serious danger,” warns EMF General Secretary Peter Scherrer.
Nine fundamental elements
In its Berlin declaration, the EMF Sector Committee Shipbuilding states that European and national policy-makers, industry and trade unions must develop a common European strategy based on nine fundamental elements:
1. No redundancies in 2009 and 2010
2. Promote environmental protection – Develop new markets
3. Intensify research, development and innovation for the future
4. Safeguarding European know-how in ship financing
5. Create fair conditions for competition
6. Responsible behaviour of shipowners
7. Responsible behaviour of employers
8. Strengthen Social Dialogue
9. Implementation and new orientation for LeaderShip 2015
Break-down
This current shipbuilding crisis is characterised by a total break-down in orders, problems in financing already existing orders, overcapacities in merchant shipbuilding, job losses and announced redundancies, and steadily rising bankruptcies in Europe. At the same time, yards in Asia (China, South Korea) are receiving massive state support to deal with the impact of the crisis.
Strategic sector
“Without a common European strategy for shipbuilding thousands of jobs will be lost and industrial capacity will be destroyed. Europe cannot risk losing such a strategic sector, its know-how, its highly skilled workforce and its capacity to provide green products for green transport solutions. This is why trade union representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Great Britain met in Berlin on 25th and 26th June 2009 to put forward their own proposals,” stated Heino Bade, chairman of the EMF Sector Committee Shipbuilding.
https://www.emf-fem.org/Press/Press-releases/Avoid-Redundancies-Safeguard-Competitiveness-Enter-New-Markets[Read the Berlin declaration]
