annual report 2004 - Severočeské doly a.s.

34
——
35
municipalities and other organizations, assisting their operations in various forms. The basis of financial
assistance was resources provided in accordance with a General Meeting resolution and a government
resolution on the provision of gifts and donations.
Municipalities were provided with donations of more than CZK 16 million to develop their infrastructure
and implement regional development projects. CZK 11 million was channelled into health care
and social and charity purposes. In the field of physical education and sport, especially the use of free
time and the development of talent among children and young people, the company made CZK 5.8 million
available. Small and large sports clubs received sponsorship; some of them were dependent on this
support as they sought to continue training young people. These beneficiaries included young wrestlers,
softball players, junior football teams, ice-hockey clubs, and handicapped athletes. Further funds were
donated to voluntary fire brigades in the region to safeguard the protection of the public against fire,
and to social service institutions so that they could buy the equipment they needed.
CZK 8.6 million was gifted to cultural projects recommended by the Ministry of Culture and to environmental
protection. These beneficiaries included the Chomutov District Museum, the Teplice Regional
Museum, the Chomutov Municipal Theatre, Duchcov Castle, and Chomutov Forest Park. The North
Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra received sponsorship for a Beethoven festival. CZK 5.1 million was
donated to science and education, primarily to equip schools with modern teaching aids and to nurture
the talent of children and young people. Funds were made available to nursery, primary, and
secondary schools, selected universities and colleges, children’s homes, and youth centres.
Sports, cultural, educational and other social organizations received more than CZK 16.7 million
in the form of consideration paid for advertisements and promotion.
In 2004, Severočeské doly supported the publication of a number of publications and textbooks
(e.g. Mining Maps and Measuring Devices). The company worked in association with the Czech
Agricultural University to prepare an exhibition of photographs detailing the reclamation and field
engineering of the landscape affected by opencast coal mining; this exhibition was shown in exhibition
halls in Teplice, Bílina, Chomutov and Ostrava. Severočeské doly a.s. is a permanent member of the Mining
and Oil Refining Industry Employers Union and the Czech Managers Association. It was also an active
participant in the activities of the District Economic Chambers and Economic and Social Councils
of Chomutov and Teplice.
Responsibility to Employees
Severočeské doly offers reliable employment and good social security for the workforce, especially
in the districts of Chomutov and Teplice, where unemployment is rife. Besides stable employment
in a good working environment and the corresponding level of pay, employees enjoy a number of special
benefits. In its personnel policy, the company tries to motivate employees to put in higher, betterquality
performance, to communicate openly, to improve qualifications, to improve the corporate
culture, and to consolidate the company’s identity. These factors make a significant contribution
to social peace within the company, as evidenced by the bilaterally correct and conflict-free collective
bargaining between the management and the trade unions.
Relations with Business Partners
Severočeské doly places a large emphasis on the quality of production, on the reliability of supplies,
and on ensuring an accommodating approach to customers. The company actively helps to find
Use of funds from net earnings in 2004 approved by the General Meeting
(CZK millions)
Infrastructure — 16.0
Health care, charity, social services — 11.0
Sport — 5.8
0 10 20 30 40 50
Arts and the environment — 8.6
Young people, education, and science — 5.1