News

UNI Europa Graphical & Packaging and the European Trade Union Institute organised a seminar in Portugal to discuss the issues around the extensive restructuring which is occurring in the industry throughout Europe and globally and how this impacts on workers



Participants included representatives from the UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Tunisia and Chile. After an introduction about the EWC recast directive (Directive 2009/38 EU) the participants discussed the role, potentialities and limits in a number of concrete examples with EWC's in Mayr-Melnoff, SCA Packaging and DS Smith.



In addition the HoD of UNI Global Graphical & Packaging reinforced the importance of global union alliances and networks. The dispute at the MMP plant in Liverpool (UK) was identified as an example of how important these global networks are and how an effective EWC can link in very well with the global alliances.



The MMP representatives informed the seminar that the company had announced that morning that the plant would close which is in direct contravention of British law which stipulates there must be a period of consultation before any closure.



The participants sent a message of solidarity to the sacked workers and pledged to do everything possible to assist the workers