Brussels, 10/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - Following the restructuring announced by ABB Alstom Power, which will lead of 10,000 job losses, the European Federation of Metalworkers, FEM, organised a European Day of Action in Brussels on Monday 10 April. A trade union delegation was received by Lars Vagman, coordinator responsible for restructuring at ABB. The delegation asked more particularly that ABB Alstom Power stick by its undertaking to maintain its different localisations and jobs relating to that, as well as respecting the workers' right to information-consultation, including when it was a question of job-cuts. The trade unions also launched an appeal for a new European energy policy, creator of jobs, modern, innovative and environment-friendly.
The General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Emilio Gabaglio backed FEM's action and called on the "EU Council to assume its responsibilities and strengthen workers' rights by adopting a directive on worker information-consultation at national level, and rapidly proceed with the revision of the directive on European Works' Councils".