15 June, 2012On 12-14 November, IndustriALL’s World Conference on the Pulp and Paper Industries in Stockholm Sweden brought together affiliates from around the world to collectively discuss issues affecting the sector and how to actively address them.
After company presentations on the future of the industry and active panel discussions on the challenges in the sector and the union vision, it was made clear that the industry is in a critical transformation in terms of business and also in terms of trade union issues.
“This conference was an opportunity to get not only the trade union vision on the sector but also the company perspective on topics such as the future of the industry, labour relations in a global economy, Global Framework Agreements and new trends and developments in the industry.”
said Anatoly Surin, IndustriALL Pulp and Paper sector director.
Participants agreed on an action plan to create a strong and united front in their struggle. The action plan puts particular emphasis on issues such as, building strong unions, fighting for trade union rights, eliminating precarious work, strengthening industrial policy, sustainability, equal working conditions and democracy and social justice.
“The hard part is to put this plan into action. We must be active and draw inspiration from this conference. When we go to our workplaces we must remember to work with one another and help one another in organizing and information sharing. We can do this and we can promise to do our best in the interest of our members.”
Said Jan-Henrik Sandberg, IndustriALL’s Pulp and Paper Work Group Chairman and President of Swedish trade union Pappers, the host of the conference.
A lively discussion on the issue of Precarious Work made it clear that the working group needs to have a target due to the complexity of the issue.
“The struggle against precarious work must be integrated in our day to day work, this is essential. We must use tools like networks and Global Framework Agreements to bring the issue of precarious work to the forefront”
said Kemal Ozkan IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary.