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SKF World Union Committee

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3 September, 2013SKF: Oldest World Union Committee – not so old after all

From 17 to 19 September trade union and works councils delegates, from 16 countries, representing more than 45,000 workers of the SKF group, met in Vienna and discussed the challenges of globalization.

The World Union Committee (WUC) delegates met in Vienna to discuss the latest crisis which has shown again the necessity of global networks. They exchanged their experiences and discussed the future of worker representation in the SKF group.

During the first day, the CEO, Tom Johnstone, was also attending the meeting and answered questions that were raised by the delegates. Everyone in the room felt the necessity of finding proactive answers to the challenges of a globalized 21st century economy.

Core issues were – besides the “day-to-day-work” discussions about a model for facing flexibility necessities within the SKF group. The WUC chairman, the Swedish colleague Kennet Carlsson stated:

“It will be crucial for works councils and trade unions all over the world to be prepared to face the next crisis without major damages for the employees. We are therefore seeking models for flexibility and training so that workers will be strengthened even when times get hard. We need to be pro-active. The time is right to start discussions with the management. At any rate we will only admit solutions that are in line with existing legal provisions and collective bargaining agreements.”

Discussions were partly controversial, but always in a spirit of mutual respect and acceptance. At the end the steering committee was entitled to enter into discussions with the management in order to evaluate if there are common solutions to be found.

Besides the discussions in Vienna the delegates had time to enjoy the hospitality of the hosting Austrian trade union PRO-GE who did all that was possible to create an environment where trade union members from four continents could work together in a spirit of solidarity. Kennet Carlsson and the whole committee also said good-bye to Josef Brandstötter, Austria, Gisela Birwer, Germany and Tore Hjert, Sweden, who will be retiring soon and hence not be attending the SKF World Union Committee as from 2014.

The 2014 meeting of the SKF World Union Committee will be held in Sweden.