10 May 2011
Unite the Union has a long history of membership within the chemical and allied industries and the Unite membership in this sector now extends across engineering and maintenance, supervisory, scientific, administration, marketing and sales and management grades, with total numbers exceeding 20,000.
Alan McGuckin, Unite Officer, who was part of the negotiating team that took the Gold Standard competency framework to Europe said, “It is very positive that trade unions and employers in the chemical sector have come together on the skills agenda to help businesses and workforces through the global economic crisis and build a platform for sustainable growth.
“The overall picture in the chemicals sector is one of cutbacks in the bulk chemical industry with an increasing concentration in specialty chemical production and the growth of highly specialised bio-chemical operations.
“Skilled individuals are more important than ever as the industry continues to see a break up of the old giants with smaller businesses being sold off to, for example, specialty operators who are developing niche markets.”
Unite assistant general secretary, Tony Burke, who represents both Unite and the TUC on the board of Cogent, added: ”The agreement is the first of its type in the chemical industry and only the second across all EU sectors relating to training, education and lifelong learning.”
John Holton, Cogent Strategy Director is delighted with the new agreement, he said, “The 27 countries of the European Union will initially use the Gold Standard competency framework for process operators and first line supervisor job roles in the chemical sector, moving onto other roles in due course. This will ensure high levels of competence in a key strategic sector.”
Unite is the largest union in the country, and was at the forefront of negotiations in establishing the new Framework Agreement on Education, Training and Lifelong Learning across Europe.
It was also agreed by the European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG) and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF).
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