Social dialogue launched in PVC industry

The European-level social partners in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry decided in October 2000 to create a forum for social dialogue. The forum will discuss the industry's development, health and safety, environmental issues, training, EU enlargement and European Works Councils.

On 17 October 2000, an agreement on social dialogue in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry was signed by the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers' Federation (EMCEF) and three organisations representing employers - the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), the European Stabilisers Producers Association (ESPA) and the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI). The employers' organisations represent firms such as Ackros, Aragonesas, Atofina, BASF, Bayer, BP Amoco Chemicals, CEPSA, Cognis, Ferro, Norsk Hydro, Solvay, Vestolit.

The parties have decided to create a forum for a social dialogue, which will be a "permanent and sustainable process between industry and unions", with regular meetings taking place. They envisage annual meetings of a joint steering committee, with ECVM, ECPI and ESPA each represented by up to two participants and EMCEF represented by a maximum of six. Decisions of any kind will be taken on the basis of a "good and common understanding".

The four organisations state that the ongoing debate on "PVC issues" has highlighted the need for a permanent social dialogue process in this sector. There is considerable emphasis on the maintenance of high standards of health and safety and the transfer of these standards to countries applying to join the EU. In particular, the following issues will be discussed in the dialogue:

• the development of the PVC industry in the context of European policy. The parties state that both employers and employees share a common interest in ensuring that production is environmentally compatible and safe and that recycling methods are adhered to. They will therefore make the development of the European PVC industry a subject for regular debate;

• health and safety and environmental standards. These standards are said to be high in the EU and the parties note that the maintenance of these standards requires continual research and implementation of scientific findings. Appropriate and comprehensive information and training of the workforce at company level is essential for the safe handling of PVC and its raw materials. The parties agree that they will endeavour to raise these standards by means of regular discussions on research activities and findings. The parties also state that they are interested in dialogue with other organisations which are concerned with PVC issues;

• training. The parties note that a high level of training is essential in terms of employment security and employment opportunities within related industries, and commit themselves to developing standards for training and further training in the PVC industry;

• transfer of standards to the accession countries. The parties note that health and safety and environmental standards in the countries applying to join the EU are often not as high as those in EU Member States. They therefore state that they will cooperate with any partner in the accession countries in order to raise standards. To this end, there will be a regular information exchange on the situation in these and other countries; and

• European Works Councils ( EWC s). The parties agree that they will encourage their members to include health and safety and environmental issues in discussions within EWCs. In companies which are not covered by the EWCs Directive (those with fewer than 1,000 employees in the EU), the parties envisage that a "suitable information system" for discussion of these issues at European level could be created.