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Engineers' lives in the balance: unions set sights on their safety
With the challenges facing people face across the world needing the very best of science, technology and engineering innovation, UNI Global Union believes work place will only be improved through trade unions for engineers as part of the solution.
From Piper Alpha to Bhopal, from Chernobyl to Fukushima, from the Challenger space shuttle to Hatfield rail crash, and more recently the attack on ln Amenas gas plant in Algeria, engineers are increasingly on the frontline of major tragedies whose risks could have been reduced with effective and timely consultation and intervention.
We are all engineers
UNI Global Union President for Professionals and Managers, Ulf Bengtsson, an engineer at Sony Ericsson, said: “Engineering is at the heart of all our industries – the technologies that support our daily lives and improve our standard of living. Since engineers are vital to a sustainable future, our work must also deliver solutions to safeguard our profession.
“In order to find global solutions we need strong and sustainable unions to work with industry and government to look at the great engineering successes, and those occasions where we have got it wrong.”
Global challenges require global response
The UNI Global Union Engineering Conference will focus on the significant trends that are emerging within the engineering profession and recognising that these are increasing global challenges which require a unified and global response.
UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings, said: "The global economy cannot turn without high quality engineering talent, a key to competitivity and productivity today is the investment in engineers, they are the source of creativity and innovation which benefits mankind. Engineers are turning to unions in increasing numbers and unions are becoming champions in the move for investment in skills, career development, decent working conditions and environment. UNI Global Union will continue its commitment to this crucial area of the labour market."
Note to Editors
UNI Global Union’s World Engineers Conference will take place from 09:00-17:00 on Friday 12 April in the Oslo conference centre of NITO, the Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists. This is a free event for all affiliates in UNI Global Union sectors and regions who are involved in organising and representing engineers. Sessions will focus on “setting the scene to seek engineers’ safety at home and abroad;” “Common challenges in engineering;” “Building power to win for engineers;” and “Engineer unions’ network and exchange.”
For more information on the event
Sadia Kaenzig, Sadia.Kaenzig@uniglobalunion.org, mob: +41 79 396 37 18
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