Faced with the upheavals linked to the ecological transition that threaten the gas sector, the unions of Eurogas, EPSU and IndustriAll Europe want to relaunch the Sectoral Social Dialogue in the Gas Sector, created in 2007 and since then put on 'standby', in a joint statement published on Monday 28 October.
They are in fact sounding the alarm with regards to the profound transformations that are expected to affect the sector in the coming decades, with reference to the European strategy “A clean planet for all” (see EUROPE 12291/12).
For trade unions, it is “high time” to return to social dialogue to anticipate changes in employment structures in the gas sector. To do this, it is necessary to relaunch sectoral social dialogue in the gas sector by preparing a study on the impact of the transition, as well as on the skill needs and the industry's capacity to meet these needs, they argue.
The social partners will thus closely follow the political debate on the Green Deal and the approach to translate it into a socially equitable transition.
In July, the Commission published a series of recommendations to make the ecological transition socially just (see EUROPE 12292/26). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)