Experiences from Norway on tripartite/social dialogue in relation to restructuring of industries - roles of organizations

Transcription

1 Are's presentation Joint seminar on Just Transition between Poland and Norway, (ca 10 min) Experiences from Norway on tripartite/social dialogue in relation to restructuring of industries - roles of organizations Thank you. Thank you for organizing this joint seminar. We are very happy to take part in these important discussions. (about LO) I would like to start with a few words about who we are. The Norwegian Trade Union Confederation, LO is Norway's largest and most influential workers' organization, and we were founded in More than workers are affiliated to the 26 national trade unions which in turn are affiliated to LO. We have more than unions' representatives. 50 percent of LO s members are women. Our core work is to ensure; Decent Work for all, Equal rights, A safe and healthy working environment, Social security and equal opportunities for all groups in society, to Combat unemployment, and to Fight social dumping. The fight against Climate change is also trade union business. Ensuring a Just Transition to a climate friendly society and work life is very central to us. 1

2 (about LO's climate position) It must be crystal clear that there is no option but to deliver on the climate goals. The trade union movement has called upon politicians to be responsible and ensure climate policies that includes necessary measures. Globally we have called for rich countries to make sure poor countries can adapt to climate changes and handle their emissions. And we have called for a Just Transition for workers and communities, where no-one is left behind. LO has worked closely with the international trade union movement for decades to achieve these goals, also in the international climate change negotiations. We are pleased we have succeeded in having the Paris Agreement underlining the imperative of a just transition for the workforce. And we are indeed very pleased that the Polish COP Presidency also share this view, and I must say that we really appreciate the work you are doing with "the Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration". (Just Transition) A Just Transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy, guarantee a socially sustainable outcome. Just Transition includes these elements: 2

3 1. Ensuring climate measures are carried out and that climate targets are reached 2. Building the low-emission society - investments and development of environmentally friendly technologies 3. Guaranteeing workers rights - the right to organize; to negotiate collective bargaining agreements; participate and being involved through social dialogue 4. Providing education and training building skills and competence for new tasks and jobs 5. Social rights through social security and welfare systems. Just Transition means that decent work and social protection are provided for those whose livelihoods, incomes and employment are affected by the need to adapt to climate change, and this is done through socially responsible green investments and low-carbon development strategies. In Norway the trade union movement has fought and won several of these rights; We have workers rights. The social partners cooperate and there is a well- established tripartite cooperation and social dialogue. I would also like to underline very strongly, that there is trust between the social partners something that in my view is a must for a fruitful cooperation. 3

4 We have social protection and a solid welfare system. But no right is won forever, and we see that we still need to fight for these rights. There is a need for better measures to ensure that people can get access to new skills and life-long learning. Workers' access to training and skills development has been reduced the last years and the number of workers participating in life-long learning activities is at the lowest level for ten years; only 8 percent in 2017 compared to 11 percent in And this negative development is particularly strong for workers over 50 years. Unfortunately, we see less investment in competence. We do, however, have a solid fundament for cooperation between the social partners in Norway; what we often refer to as the Norwegian Model or The Nordic Model. This model has, according to many studies, made the Nordic countries the world's best countries to live in, Economic Governance, Public Welfare and Organized Work. As an important part of the Nordic Model, we have been used to short distances between top management and employees, both in everyday internal communication and in wages. Our experience is that climate issues clearly are issues we cooperate well on. Despite that trade unions have a pretty good dialogue with the Norwegian government on climate and Just Transition issues the government do support especially in international climate negotiations we have not succeeded in convincing 4

5 the Norwegian government to establish a national Just Transition Council or Task Force, - yet. Therefore, we have reached out to the city of Oslo. We have worked closely with the Oslo government on several issues, and we have also met support for our Just Transition and Decent Work Agenda. At the Global Climate Action Summit in San Fransisco five weeks ago LO's president and the governing mayor of Oslo, presented a pledge to establish the Oslo Model on Just Transition. A Just Transition Task Force is soon to be appointed, and this Task Force will discuss and give advice on ways to secure that Oslo's ambitious climate plan is merged with a Just Transition of the workforce. We hope and plan to make such a great model in Oslo that other city governments and even the national government will see that this is the way to do it, working together ensuring a Just Transition. (about CCS) LO sees Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS as necessary to reach the climate goals, but also as a tool for a Just Transition. Both IPCC (the International Panel on Climate Change) and the IEA (the International Energy Agency) agree that CCS is absolutely essential to meet the world's climate goals. And we are many who agree with them. This is no paradox CCS is a future major area for development and green growth, especially for industrial processes. We see it as 5

6 extremely important to share knowledge about CCS, and to discuss ways forward. In LO's opinion Norway can build a CCS future on the shoulders of today's high-competence workplaces in the oil and gas sector, the maritime industry, the process industry and the blooming environmentally friendly technology development. We can be good at this. But to make it happen, it takes political will and courage to think long-term and holistically. There are many Norwegian reports and studies about CCS. Almost all of which focus on challenging technical development and obstacles, or high costs. Up till now, no study really looked at CCS as industrial opportunities and possible benefits for society in addition to the climate benefits, in short-time and in a longer perspective. No study really looked at the potential for keeping existing jobs and creating new jobs, - how many jobs, what kind of jobs. This perspective has been absent in the Norwegian CCS debate. So, together with the employers' organization, NHO we wanted to bring jobs and industrial opportunities on to the political CCS agenda. The research institute, SINTEF undertook a study for us to highlight these issues; The report is named "Industrial opportunities and employment prospects in large-scale CO₂-management in Norway", and we have brought with us some copies in English. This study gives necessary and important input to the political debate and broadens the perspective when it comes to benefits for society. 6

7 The report sums up that giving priority to the CCS value chain in Norway will secure thousand existing jobs thousand new jobs (including in Hydrogen production) can be created by A ripple effect by 2050 is estimated to secure up to 200 thousand jobs, creating 70 thousand new jobs. This is good news! We need those jobs. For LO it is obvious that a Norwegian CCS industry will be essential in the transition to a low-carbon society. It is also obvious to us that this transition must be just. Thank you 7