European trade union voice heard in European Parliament Hearings on EADS

The purpose of the Hearing was to discuss the reasons for the Airbus crisis, possible solutions and the role of the European institutions and the social partners in the development of the European aeronautics industry. The Parliamentary groups had invited EMF and ETUC, together with the trade unions involved in EADS, to an exchange of views in this respect.

The EMF General Secretary reiterated the European metalworkers’ rejection of the EADS Power8 Programme and set out the EMF’s demands:
· No selling off of sites
· No site closures
· No job cuts
· Yes to an industrial plan geared to the future based on innovation and know-how development
· Yes to a European industrial policy for the aerospace sector supporting the efforts in R&D that are essential for the development of this industry.

The European trade unions called for real consultation of all the actors, and notably the transformation of EADS into a European Company.

As stated by Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary, “EADS is a very European Company. Its highly-skilled workforce is its greatest asset. I am therefore astonished that it does not give seats on its Board to worker representatives in order to give them a say in decision-making within the company”. ETUC Deputy General Secretary Reiner Hoffmann underlined: “Only with the effective involvement of workers’ representatives in the process of restructuring can knock-on effects on employment and working conditions be avoided”.

The EMF and the ETUC strongly demand an appropriate representation of trade union and workers’ representatives in the decision-making process of the company.
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PRESS 20/2007
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.

The ETUC exists to speak with a single voice, on behalf of the common interests of workers, at European level. Founded in 1973, it now represents 81 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations.

For further information please contact:
Peter Scherrer , EMF General Secretary
Reiner Hoffman, ETUC Deputy General Secretary