Brussels, 28 October 2019. Today the European trade union federations, industriAll European Trade Union and EPSU, and the industry association Eurogas, restarted their European Social Dialogue in the gas sector. This sectoral social dialogue has the support of the European Commission. In their plenary meeting the Social Partners addressed the role of gas in a decarbonised European economy and the impact of the energy transition on workers in the European gas industry.
Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary of EPSU, stated: “The gas sector is currently at a major turning point. It must reinvent itself to be part of the decarbonisation strategy currently shaped by the European Institutions. These evolutions must be anticipated in order to avoid any negative
consequences and to offer clear perspectives to the workers. The just transition that workers and local communities deserve can only be effective through the strong involvement of the social partners at all levels. Today, the European social partners in the gas sector take up their responsibility!”
Luc Triangle, General Secretary of industriAll Europe added that “Returning to a genuine social dialogue with the European employers in the gas sector comes at a crucial point in the discussion about the EU’s long-term decarbonisation strategy. At present, there are many uncertainties regarding the future role of gas and what place renewable gas and hydrogen will take in the economy. Social partners must jointly anticipate change and offer clear perspectives to workers!”
Eurogas Secretary General, James Watson, concluded: “The gas sector is going through a transition. Natural gas can deliver on the EU’s decarbonisation efforts towards 2030, while increased volumes of renewable and decarbonised gases will be indispensable in meeting the 2050 EU climate targets. I am confident that our work with the trade unions and the European Commission will provide industrial and employment opportunities for the workers of the EU and set the pace for European leadership in clean energy technologies.”
Note to editors: European social dialogue refers to discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions involving organisations representing the two sides of industry (employers and workers).
EPSU, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, is the largest federation of the European Trade Union Confederation and comprises 8 million public service workers from over 260 trade unions across Europe. EPSU organises workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local, regional and central government, in all European countries including the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood. In our sectors we organise workers in the public, the non-profit, mixed and private sector including in multinational companies. It is the recognised regional organisation of Public Services International (PSI). More information: www.epsu.org.
IndustriAll European Trade Union is the federation of independent and democratic trade unions representing workers in the metal, chemical, energy, mining, textile, clothing and footwear sectors and related industries and activities. We represent 7 million working men and women united within 180 national trade union affiliates in 38 European countries. Press contact: Andrea Husen-Bradley, ahb@industriall-europe.eu, tel. +32 2 226 0061
Eurogas is a European gas industry association representing 47 companies and associations from 21 countries engaged in gas wholesale, retail and distribution. Press contact: Marina Demidova, marina.demidova@eurogas.org, tel. +32 2 894 48 05
