Thousands Of Miners Fear For Their Jobs

The first time, could lead to mass redundancies in the German coal mining. In the dispute over government subsidies for Deutsche Steinkohle AG harden the fronts. While SPD chief Beck for a progress payment calls, will NRW Prime Minister Rüttgers the exit.
Dusseldorf - According to information of the Newspaper exceeded the cost of RAG subsidiary Deutsche Steinkohle AG (DSK) last year approved the subsidies by 163 million euros. DSK-CEO Bernd Tönjes have before the end of the closure of a mine can not be ruled out if the amount is not balanced. This would have the dismissal of up to 3000 employees.
DDP
coal miners in Essen: Fears for subsidies DSK chief Bern Tönjes the figures have already joined the German Economics Ministry. By 2012 were also more coverage gaps to be expected, which stands at up to 2.5 billion sum. The federal government wants to finance only offset holes when it comes to a decision to exit from the promotion of coal come.
RAG spokeswoman wanted to comment on the above figures do not express. "The economic situation in our mining subsidiary DSK makes us very worried," she said the news agency dpa. The situation was "very seriously". For the beginning of February was an extraordinary supervisory board meeting at the DSK, in which the consequences to speak.
The German Economics Ministry, the financial problems serene than the RAG. "I can only liability to the association (between parent and subsidiary company) and point out that the liquidity situation of the mother is good," said a ministry spokesman. A RAG spokesman said, the Ministry do with this expression "the finger in the wound". This will clearly that the current group model "already in the short term, no longer work." It was a key decision on the future of the mining industry urgently needed.
Because of the dispute over the mining subsidies is also the planned initial public offering of RAG on ice. RAG CEO Werner Mueller, the divisions chemistry, energy and real estate in June 2007 on the stock market. The proceeds will be follow-up costs of mining finance. Without an agreement, and thus threaten the financial clarity Group incalculable risks.
But the dispute over an end to coal subsidies seem to harden the fronts. While SPD leaders today at the Bochum national party again obtaining the coal mining industry called the NRW dismissed Prime Minister Jürgen Rüttgers (CDU) of this notion rigorously. The desired initial public offering of RAG AG had only one end together with the coal mining industry to have Rüttgers said the New Year's reception of the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia Dusseldorf.
of the SPD base mining is required under EU law inadmissible, underlined Rüttgers. "This is the legal situation. And who says something else, is deceiving the people." At the end of January would have the necessary decisions to end coal subsidies are taken. Otherwise, the 100,000 jobs the RAG Group in danger.
Beck said the exit plans of the provincial governments of North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland a "blind alley". The SPD will continue to use the decision to open a base to keep mining, he said in Bochum. Vice Chancellor Franz Muentefering (SPD) described the coal as a viable industry. "We would bescheuert if we are in a historical situation to say goodbye," he said.
SPD opposition leader Hannelore attested to the power black-yellow state government lack of expertise. The CDU / FDP coalition assume RAG hostage to the phasing out of coal durchzuboxen. The SPD will try to explain their demand for a permanent coal base note stressed. "Coal is the world's future and not past."
DER Newspaper cites in his report to an internal memo from the Federal Ministry of Finance, after which the federal subsidies by 2012 as much as 2.5 billion euros must increase in order to avoid compulsory redundancies. Economics Minister Michael Glos (CSU), with Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD) agreed that the additional funds should only exist if the DSK its mining activities until 2018 stops completely, it noted.
end of the month will the coalition committee again in Berlin on the future of coal advice. The North Rhine-Westphalia state government and the CDU, the coal subsidies 2018 at the latest. For them, this is a prerequisite to allowing the RAG Group on the stock market can go. The SPD calls for a mining base for at least three coal mines long-term supply. The black-yellow coalition has threatened by North Rhine-Westphalia paid subsidies cease if no decision in Berlin for the exit. BOR / dpa / Reuters

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This entry was posted on August 2008 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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