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The president of UNI Europa Graphical, Simon Dubbins and the President of Intergraf, Håvard Grjotheim , have signed a joint declaration where they pledge to continue joint efforts in assisting the printing industry to overcome the various challenges it is facing today. The signing took place at a conference focusing on socially responsible restructuring on the 23^rd November 2010 in Brussels, which was attended by more than 150 participants.



The one-year employer/union project, titled Best Practices in Socially Responsible Restructuring for Printing Companies, made the social partners to realise the value of an ongoing high level dialogue at European level between employers and trade union representatives, involving both the national level and European level representatives. In the joint declaration signed by Intergraf and UNI Europa Graphical, the two organisations together with their affiliates commit themselves to continue to meet within the framework of a high level working group to prepare a draft action plan for future joint activities at European level. This draft action plan will include – among other - the following actions:



· Make recommendations for future joint projects, such as the setting up of an Observatory on the industry, jobs and skills.

· Identify transnational issues to bring to the attention of decision makers, opinion formers, the industry’s employees and employers.

· Involve other industry stakeholders, such as representatives of suppliers and customers as appropriate.

· Liaise with DG Enterprise of the European Commission on industry issues.

· Liaise with DG Employment and Social Affairs on social issues.



Once finalised, the draft action plan will be submitted for discussion and adoption to both Intergraf and UNI Europa Graphical General Assemblies which will take place in June 2011 - with the view to formalise such discussions within a European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee.

In addition to these actions at high political level, the Project Steering Group has announced their availability to assist with the initial understanding of the project and its outcomes, especially in countries not directly involved in the project. Seminars and workshops will be organised at national and local level to transpose the project outcomes into a national cultural and legal framework.



In the related documents of this article you will find, the declaration signed during the conference, the study and the toolkit prepared within the framework of the joint project between Intergraf and UNI europa graphical.



For more information, please contact:



Nicola Konstantinou: UNI EG secretary + 32 2 234 56 44 – Nicola.konstantinou@uniglobalunion.org