Last week, on Thursday, a group of almost 50 trade unionists from U. S. Steel Košice took part in the European manifestation meeting of trade unionists, which took place under the blast furnace in Vítkovice. From Slovakia, the event was also attended by trade unionists from OZ KOVO from Tatravagónka Poprad, Beko Europe Poprad, Železiarne Podbrezová, Volkswagen Slovakia, car manufacturers KIA and Mobis Žilina, PPS Detva, Continental Zvolen, ZKW Krušovce and Stellantis in Trnava. They thus joined hundreds of other trade unionists from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Germany.
The assembly was held as part of the IndustriAll Europe (European trade union federation) action day. The present trade unionists, employees of industrial sectors jointly expressed their disagreement with the current developments in industrial sectors and demanded specific measures to support Slovak and European industry, protect production and maintain stable, high-quality and decent jobs.
The industry is facing serious challenges – rising costs, climate challenges, expensive energy and cheap imports from non-European countries, uncertainty and the relocation of production outside Europe, which is reflected in factory closures and threats to jobs.
"It is therefore important that we unite, act together and make it clear that employees must not bear the consequences of industrial and economic policy failures. We want to enforce our demands through the governments of the participating countries and the EU's national parliamentarians. We want to send our clear signal to the European Union and the demands of revising emission allowances, preserving jobs and limiting cheap steel imports," said Juraj Varga, Chairman of the Executive Board of U. S. Steel Košice.
The chairwoman of OZ KOVO, Monika Benedeková, said: "The situation in Slovak industry is critical. The end of production in Slovalco, the transfer of production from OFZ in Orava, the problems of Kovohút Krompachy, but also the pressure of high energy prices on Železiarne Podbrezová or U. S. Steel Košice, as well as the decline in production in car manufacturers, show that without quick and systemic measures, we are losing jobs and strategic industry. At the same time, geopolitical instability further breaks the entire supply chain. Our participation in this event is not only an important expression of solidarity and belonging, but also of our determination to defend the future of industry and jobs in Europe."
Let us remind you that this event follows last year's joint protest of European employees and trade unionists in Brussels in Belgium called For Quality Jobs, which also took place on February 5, also with the participation of trade unionists from OZ KOVO from Slovakia.
