Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-06-Speech-4-013"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-11-06"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Employment prospects in the EU automobile sector2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20031106.1.4-013"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-11-06-Speech-4-0142
lpv:speaker	lp:Anne Van Lancker2
lpv:spokenAs	member_of_the_bureau; PES (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Member States of ASEAN, south-east Asia and the Republic of Korea (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Socialistische Partij (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; EMPL (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Development and Cooperation (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in the context of this debate, I should like to ask you two urgent questions in connection with the reorganisation at Ford and, more specifically, the collective dismissal of about 3 000 workers in Genk. I do not think that I have to convince anyone of the fact that this is a real tragedy, not only for the people at Ford Genk, but also for the suppliers and for the region as a whole. However, Commissioner, the way in which this reorganisation is being managed is shocking, and in my view, contravenes European rules. The fact is that Ford has been in breach of contract on two occasions, the first time by failing to comply with the collective labour agreements that were concluded with the workers in 2002, and in which investments were planned. The second case, Commissioner, is, however, for Europe to deal with, as it has to do with a failure to consult the European Works Council in this matter. The reorganisation at Ford is clearly a European matter, because the cancellation of investments at Ford Genk has repercussions for two other establishments in Germany. Moreover, jobs have also been scrapped in Cologne and the Jaguar factory in Barnsley is being closed down. This clearly illustrates, therefore, that this reorganisation is a European matter that should be dealt with by the European works council. However, as it happens, Commissioner, the works council was not consulted in this matter. Ford is deliberately entering into negotiations on a company-by-company basis. This, in my view, clearly contravenes legislation concerning the European works council for which we voted here in 1994. After all, no attempt whatsoever is currently being made to find a solution for this reorganisation at European level. As my fellow MEPs have already pointed out, this could have yielded alternative solutions, for example, by spreading the work among various people in, for example, the framework of a shorter working week. My first question to the Commission is whether it intends, on the basis of European legislation on European works councils, to require that the Ford management start negotiations within a European framework at this stage. A second question on this subject, Commissioner, concerns the following. The regulation concerning Ford's European works council is apparently based on the notorious Article 13, the so-called voluntary agreements, to which the directive and annex with minimum provisions do not apply. Would this not yet again constitute a reason for the Commission to impose these famous minimum rules on all agreements concerning European works councils?"@en1

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