“Keeping manufacturing of ICT products in Europe is vital to the industry. The ICT sector is a main driver of innovation and creates jobs across sectors.” EMF General Secretary Peter Scherrer said.

UNI-Europa Regional Secretary Bernadette Ségol emphasized the challenges trade unions are facing as the ICT sector has become the driving force for development and innovation across the EU:

"It is important that trade unions respond to the dynamic of the ICT sector and the needs of its professionals by promoting a long-term e-skills strategy. UNI Europa has already been successfully involved in multi-stakeholder partnerships that help both employers and ICT practitioners to address problems such as skills shortage and training. Most importantly though, we have to establish social dialogue in the ICT sector."

Conference website.

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PRESS 26/2008

The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.

UNI-Europa is a European trade union organization, representing seven million members in the services sector. UNI-Europa contributes to the development of a fair, social Europe through its active role in the social dialogue in a range of industries and in contacts and lobbying of the European institutions.

http://www.uni-europa.org

For further information please contact:

Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary

Gerd Rohde, UNI IBITS Head of Department, gerd.rohde@uniglobalunion.org

Birte Dedden, UNI ICTS policy officer, birte.dedden@uniglobalunion.org