Jörg Kunkel
At the round table discussion of the conference „Labour relations and social dialogue…“ (Balatongyörök, 27-30 April 2006) on the topic „ Perspectives of Employees in the Mining Sector – the Role of Social Partners – Manual“
Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before answering the questions posed by Madam Chair I would like to live with the opportunity and express my thanks to the Hungarian organisers, especially to Rita Potapi for their excellent organisation work.
Now I am answering your questions:
- What are our demands and expectations during the process of restructuring?
First of all, I would like to state that we would prefer not to have a restructuring process at all. The mining industry does have a future perspective and it is a major pillar ensuring the safety of the energy supply in the European Union. However, in order to be able to fulfil this task, the mining industry requires the support of the political decision-makers.
Each piece of legislation and initiative – including those related to environmental protection – should be based on such technical evaluation which takes into consideration the economic, ecological and social interests in a balanced way. In addition to that, the hard coal industry – which can significantly contribute to the safety of the energy supply of the European Union – should also receive financial support.
In case restructuring becomes necessary, human beings should be placed in the centre. People and regions need economic perspectives. Obviously, I am aware of the fact that successful restructuring needs time. Nevertheless, this is the only way to implement a successful German model focusing on people.
- What are the examples of best practice in Germany?
Here I would only like to refer to the presentations delivered by Klaus Krüger and Thomas Nöcker on the merger of East and West German potassium chloride mining. I could also mention other examples from other branches. Due to the shortage of time, I would not like to mention other examples so that I keep to the five-minute speaking time.
These achievements would not have been possible without a strong trade union which was able to convince the social partners and politicians about the correctness of their standpoint.
- What are the future perspectives of the mining industry and the social dialogue? I am convinced that we have to concentrate on the opportunities of the modern mining industry. Without a mining industry, without our own energy supply we will not be able to implement the Lisboan Strategy. This conviction of mine has even strengthened during this conference. Those who would like to decrease the energy-dependence of the European Union can not give up domestic raw materials, especially brown and black coal. It is also true in the case of electrical energy production and in the case of new utilisation ways. Increasing oil and gas prices should call our attention to the further utilisation possibilities of coal. Here I mean, for example, the production of gas from coal and the production of other hydrocarbons.
- Decreasing carbon dioxide is not an issue against coal. By only modernising the coal power stations of the European Union we would be able to fully accomplish the Kyoto objectives. Political decision-makers should establish the adequate conditions for that.
- The future task both for the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Sector and the EMCEF is to coordinate the national social dialogue in the member states and the social dialogue of the energy industry taking place at the European level
- EMCEF and the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Sector should become the advocates in this process. We can achieve that the governments of countries with mining industry shall speak the same language with a new self-esteem: the self-esteem of raw material suppliers of the European Union. And then, in this process it may come true what Bernd Westphal described as one cent to ensure the raw material supply.
Mining industry does have a future in the European Union! However, this future is only possible if we actively support it.
In this spirit I would like to wish you all good luck.
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