News

The ICTS Steering Committee at its meeting on 7 June in Brussels, considered ways to improve support for EWC in ICTS companies. Over the last couple of month a number of EWC coordinators had been trained through a major project financed by the EU Commission. Coordinators build the interface between UNI europa ICTS and the European Works Council. Normally, a coordinator is a full time officer appointed by his/her union. The role of a coordinator is challenging and it requires a long term commitment to accept such a position. After the initial training course, the coordinators met with key representatives of EWCs such as IBM, Oracle, Atos Origin, Capgemini, Getronics, Verizon, Fujitsu, and others. The Steering Committee welcomed the approach and said that a follow up project was needed in order to train more coordinators and make their work more efficient.

The Steering Committee, chaired by ICTS President Tove Johansen of EL&IT in Norway, also reviewed its work and representation with the EU institutions. Positions on EU communications concerning the so called Europe 2020 strategy and a consultation on broadband and universial services were adopted. The Committee was also briefed about an event organized at the EU Parliament. The event to be held on 9 June, was jointly organized with MEPs Britta Thomsen (Denmark) and CatherineTrautmann (France) will address policies on green ICT and UNI europa’s role in this context. Following last years ICTS Forum in Helsingör, Denmark, on Green ICT for investment and jobs, this event continues the dialogue with EU institutions, industry and NGOs. Key note speakers at the event will be from the EU Commisison and the industry association “Global e-Sustainability Initiative” (GeSI). To make its work with the EU institutions better known among affiliates the ICTS secretariat will publish regular newsletters on such topics and initiatives.

The Steering Committee also decided that ‘Green ICT’ will continue to play a key role for ICTS of UNI europa. The Steering Committee discussed an application for a follow up project culminating in the next ICTS Forum, which is to be held on 24-26 November 2010 in Sesimbra, Portugal. The focus of this project will be on green ICT as subject for collective bargaining and social dialogue. Some emphasis will also be put on making trade union work places greener by using more green ICT applications and products. In this context ICTS is also working on the development of criteria and indicators to measure organizations and company’s sustainability records.

The ICTS Steering Committee elected chair persons for social dialogue committees on health&safety, skills&training and work organization. Members of the Steering Committee expressed concern about the commitment of ETNO, the European Telecom employers association. ETNO was said to paying too little attention to the social dialogue and trying to keep the profile of this important platform too low.

Finally, the Steering Committee prepared to its first annual general assembly, scheduled for 6-7 October 2010 in Luxembourg. The event is expected to bring together around 100 representatives of ICTS affiliates from all over Europe, the first such event after the merger Congress in September 2009. Focus of the assembly will be on growing trade unions in the ICTS sector, impact and opportunities of next generation networks (NGN) and new initiatives with respect to green ICT.