Shipbuilding - That is us! Shipyard workers fight for their jobs
Thousands of high-quality jobs in shipbuilding are at stake if Europe does not act now!
This was the message of several hundred workers from shipyards and their supplier companies at a rally in Bremerhaven today. The rally was joined by international delegates from Spain, Poland, France and the Netherlands.
Video link to Günter Verheugen, EC Vice-President's visit to the Bremerhaven, Germany meeting with IG Metall representatives and EMF General Secretary Peter Scherrer.
The demonstration took place at the occasion of the LeaderSHIP meeting, bringing together the CEOs of major European shipyards, national government representatives, EMF trade unions and the EU Commissioner for Industry, Günter Verheugen.
“If the sector is to recover from this disastrous crisis and drive forward innovation and green transport solutions priority must be given to securing skills and employment in the European yards”, emphasised EMF General Secretary, Peter Scherrer.
The LeaderSHIP meeting touched on the most pressing issues, such as access to finance for European yards, fighting unfair global competition and support for innovation. The participants also underlined the need to maintain high levels of employment in shipbuilding.
“The EMF demands that the industry, the Member States and the EU now turn their words into action” stressed Peter Scherrer.
In its Berlin declaration, the EMF has put forward its own proposal for a common European strategy to overcome the crisis in shipbuilding and fend off dramatic downsizing and employment losses in the sector.
Detailed information on the action day and the EMF’s demands.
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PRESS 32/2009
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.
For further information please contact:
Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Andrea Husen-Bradley, EMF Senior Policy Advisor +32 2 227 10 14
