Transport unions react to relocation from Denmark to Luxembourg

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Trade unions representing road haulage workers in Denmark and Luxembourg met in January 2000 in response to increasing relocation of Danish transport firms to Luxembourg. The unions demanded concrete political measures against outsourcing and "social dumping", and also EU legislation on drivers' working hours.

A meeting was held on 17-18 January 2000 between representatives of trade unions representing road haulage workers in Den mark - the General Workers' Union (Specialarbejderforbundet i Danmark, SiD) - and Luxembourg - the Luxembourg Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (Onofhängege Gewerkschafts-Bond Lëtzebuerg, OGB-L) and the National Federation of Luxembourg Railway and Transport Workers and Civil Servants (Fédération nationale des cheminots, travailleurs du transport, fonctionnaires et employés Luxembourg, FNCTTFEL ). The unions exchanged views on a range of socio-political matters, focusing on issues posed by the relocation to Luxembourg of a number of Danish haulage enterprises.

Recent figures show that 26 Danish transport companies, attracted by lower social security contributions, competitive gross pay rates and moderate taxation, have already moved 1,200 employees to Luxembourg, and plan to transfer another 1,000 in the near future. A number of UK haulage companies have also based some 2,000 drivers in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg unions say that these moves will threaten the employment conditions of their members, who have already suffered enough from the EU policy of liberalisation that has been implemented in the transport sector.

Both of the union delegations argued for concrete policies to combat outsourcing and "social dumping", and in particular called for binding EU legislation governing drivers' working hours. A Directive on this issue has made little progress in the EU Council of Ministers (EU9910203F).