EMF
European Metalworkers’ Federation, EMF Fédération Européenne des Métallurgistes, FEM Europäischer Metallgewerkschaftsbund, EMB
PROGRESSIVEPROGRESSIVE REPORTSREPORTS
« SOUTH EAST REGION MEETING » 07th November 2008, Zagreb, Croatia Contents of the Reports
•Members organizations that have returned the reports (February and November 2008)
•Collective Bargaining
•Main social and economic developments in the country and in particular in the metal industry
•Organising
•Organizational changes
•Training, Projects and Regional/EU cooperation
•Main challenges for the future Member organizations which have returned their reports
Sofia Zagreb Country Organisation(s) February 2008 November 2008
Bosnia and Herzegovina Trade Union Metalworkers of Bosnia and Herzegovina YES YES
Bulgaria Metalicy YES YES
Bulgaria Metal Electro "Citub"
Bulgaria NF Metallurgy "Podkrepa" CL YES YES
Bulgaria Tuofemi
Bulgaria Nftini "Podkrepa" CL
Croatia Metalworkers` Trade Union of Croatia (SMH) YES YES
Macedonia Trade Union of Industry, Energy and Mines of Macedonia (SIER) YES YES
Montenegro Montenegrin Metalworkers Trade Union (MMTU) YES
Kosovo SPMK YES
Romania Solidaritatea Metal
Romania Metarom
Romania BNS FSLI-Metal YES
Serbia GSM Nezavisnost Collective Bargaining 1
Country Organisation(s) PROGRESS CONFLICTS OR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS
2007 2008 2007 2008
o Collective agreement Same data o Volkswagen - non-respect o Protest in June in front of for the metal branch of collective agreement Federal Government (November 2006) Trade Union o Mittal Steel Zenica - strike o Conflicts in some firms Bosnia and Metalworkers of o Company level resulted in agreement on because of not respecting Herzegovina Bosnia and agreements in 80% of minimum wages (1,12 EUR); of collective agreements Herzegovina companies upcoming bargaining rounds on overtime, working conditions and minimum wages o Branch agreement o Some progress in o Protest actions in Stomana o Problems in Kremikovtzi concluded negotiating wages Industry (Viohalco), (lack of investments and Kremikovtzi AD (Global wages delay) o Company level o In negotiation process Steel), KCM Bulgaria Metalicy agreements in all of new branch companies represented agreement 2008-2010 (7) o New collecting labour agreements o Bargaining on wages o Some progress in o Protest action and o Protest action and negotiating wages meetings in Kremikovtzi AD, meetings in Kremikovtzi AD o Branch agreement KCM, Stomana Industry o In negotiation process NF Metallurgy Bulgaria o Collective labour of new branch "Podkrepa" CL agreements in all agreement 2008-2010 undertakings o New collecting labour agreements Collective Bargaining 2
Country Organisation(s) PROGRESS CONFLICTS OR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS
2007 2008 2007 2008
o Collective bargaining National level o Continuous conflict at o Croatia Pumps Karlovac for metal and electrical Croatia pumps Karlovac - industry in 2007 - two o no collective non-respect of agreement, o Kordun Group Karlovac rounds of negotiations agreements withhold of wages. ILO to be were held with HUP in notified about the case o EuroReflex, part of the which nothing was Company level Italian group YAMA, no achieved regarding o Kordun Group Karlovac - respect of minimum wage wages and limitation of o 20 new collective management refusing fixed-term employment agreements (32.358 collective bargaining, contracts (weak workers) o 22 dismissals without coverage: only 12% of agreements amended implementing labour law on SMH members are collective redundancies covered by companies o 29 agreements under Metalworkers` Trade associated in HUP). process of negotiation Croatia Union of Croatia mainly on Wage (SMH) o 134 collective increase and other agreements at company financial rights level.
o In 2007 key negotiations were held about increase of wages: achieved increases up to 10 %.
o Higher wages were also agreed for the whole shipbuilding industry Collective Bargaining 3
Country Organisation(s) PROGRESS CONFLICTS OR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS 2007 2008 2007 2008
o National Collective o National collective o Beginning 2007 - action at o 7 strike actions at agreement for private agreement for private Silmak company (steel) to company level. In one case sector signed in 2006 sector extended 1 more urge main stakeholders to warning strike and protest o Stalemate in branch year find solutions for energy in front of the Government. collective bargaining o Collective agreement crisis and production In another case 2 hours due to low organization on sectoral level still stoppage warning strike. Trade Union of rate of employers blocked because o Several conflicts of limited Industry, Energy and o Priority to company employers are not scope because of delay of Other cases resolved Macedonia Mines of Macedonia level - ongoing organized wages, not respecting the before the warning strike (SIER) negotiations with o Model on collective working time and conditions, started. support of the SIER agreement at company etc. headquarter level prepared and All the cases resolved o Collective agreements distributed to local TU according with TU on company level o Several new collective demands. coverage - more than agreements at company 50% of the members level o Start of bargaining o Warning strike related to actions in November the preparation of the new Montenegrin 2008 on new Labor Law Labour Law. Montenegro Metalworkers Trade (expected results Union (MMTU) foreseen for February 2009)
Kosovo SPMK no data no data
Collective agreement at no data sector level on increase of minimum wage and Romania BNS FSLI Metal introduction of hierarchy in coefficient for skilled workers Main social and economic developments in each country and in particular in the metal industry 1
Country Organisation(s) ISSUES
2007 2008
o Pressure on government reg. law amendments: o Same data general labour law, strike law, pension law, privatization Trade Union Bosnia and Metalworkers of o Adopted new law for protection on the work Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
o Restructuring-Kremikovtzi AD, KCM, Kumerio med; o Same data
o Ongoing/planned social reforms and new regulations in the labour law Bulgaria Metalicy o Developments in the social dialogue-transposition and enforcing of the Directive 14/2002/EC
o Ongoing/planned social reforms and new regulations, o Same data ideas and initiatives for changes in labour code
o Restructuring in Kremikovtzi AD, KCM, Kumerio med NF Metallurgy Bulgaria "Podkrepa" CL o Developments in the social dialogue Main social and economic developments in each country and in particular in the metal industry 2
Country Organisation(s) ISSUES
2007 2008
o In 2008 continuation of restructuring process in o Restructuring process in Shipbuilding sector: 6 shipbuilding sector. No significant changes expected in shipyards would be sold other sectors. o SMH executive committee demands to the o Social reforms - adoption of Minimum Wage Act Government on shipbuilding sector privatization process o Social dialogue - very low progress o SMH conducted a survey among workers
o Foreseen sale and privatization of companies in Duro Dakivic Slavonki Brod
Metalworkers` Trade o UATUC demonstration on 12 April 2008 Croatia Union of Croatia (SMH) o Creation of Tripartite committee for the monitoring of prices and inflation
o Minimum wages Act adopted and entered in force July 2008
o Amendment to Tax regulation reducing tax deduction from wages entered in force July 2008
o Negotiations on amending Labour Act started in July Main social and economic developments in each country and in particular in the metal industry 3
Country Organisation(s) ISSUES 2007 2008 o Aggressive policy of the Government to attract foreign o 3 companies with about 4000 workers members of investments resulting with tax reform, establishing of SIER not privatized yet free economic zones o Law on labour relations changed by August 2008, o Reduction of personal tax from 15 to 10%, but with faster procedure in parliament and without increase in other areas opinion of the Economic Social Council. TUs were not Trade Union of o pension reform informed about this new law Industry, Energy and o Only 3 companies (about 4000 workers) in the metal o Positive development regarding implementation of Macedonia Mines of Macedonia sector that are not privatized yet. High possibility that all law on H&S at workplace (SIER) 3 will end up in liquidation o Possible changes in the law regarding the o Liberalization of energy market calculation of gross wage. SIER is training trade unionist on this subject o SIER is investigating conditions for retirement of workers which are working in difficult situation (underground miners, etc.) o Privatized the 90% of metal sector companies Montenegrin o By the end of 2008 further privatizations in Montenegro Metalworkers Trade Shipyard, Electrode and Forestry machines plants o Union (MMTU) Social Council of Montenegro established o Memorandum with Montenegrin Parliament signed
o Strong privatization process with consequent decreasing of workforce Kosovo SPMK o High number of dismissals o No social dialogue Liquidation procedure: o S.C. Rulmentul Brasov ~3700 employees unemployed, compensatory payments 24 salaries Romania BNS FSLI Metal SOCIAL DIALOGUE with: o AVAS authority which gives a value of the State- owned assets o MEC Ministry of trade and economy Organizing 1
Country Organisation(s) Members Members Members Organising efforts 2006 2007 2008 new local organisations
2007 2008 11.920 12.300 12.300 0 increasing Trade Union Metalworkers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
7.378 8.000 8.500 5 2 Bulgaria Metalicy
2.100 4.600 7.600 with the 10 2 aim to reach Bulgaria NF Metallurgy "Podkrepa" CL 8.000 by the end of 2008 21.735 22.025 22.032 0 6 Metalworkers` Trade Union of Croatia Croatia (SMH)
Trade Union of Industry, Energy 15.000 17.332 increase to 1 2 Macedonia and Mines of Macedonia (SIER) 17.352
Montenegrin Metalworkers Trade 10.500 6.000 6.500 6 Montenegro Union (MMTU)
9.270 6.270 no data no data Kosovo SPMK
no data no data no data no data Romania BNS FSLI Metal Organizing 2 Activities and priorities
Country Organisation(s) Organising efforts activities Organising priorities
2007 2008 2007 2008 o Focus on o Respect of collective o New companies o Same priorities Trade Union implementation of agreements o Branch agreement Bosnia and Metalworkers of existing and o Social dialogue o Higher wages, better Herzegovina Bosnia and conclusion of new o Collective working condition, education Herzegovina collective agreements at of members at company level agreement company level o Seminars, o Seminars, trainings, o New companies o Same priorities trainings, brochures brochures and news o Consolidation among the and news bulletins, bulletins, meetings with federations in the metal sector meetings with employees o Collective bargaining employees (increase of wages, working Bulgaria Metalicy conditions) o Trainings of young trade union leaders o New target groups - women o Employees’ sport activities o Non-stop meetings o Establishment of new o Establishment of new with workers structures structures o Unionization o Seminars, training, o Training of young trade o Collective bargaining social dialogue union leaders o Wages increase o Improvement of work NF Metallurgy o Consolidation among conditions Bulgaria "Podkrepa" CL federations in metal sector o Training of young trade unionists o Development of the o Development of the committees for work with committees for work with women women o Activities against precarious work Organizing 3 Activities and priorities
Country Organisation(s) Organising efforts activities Organising priorities
2007 2008 2007 2008 Membership plans Membership plans is o Increased number of members o Education of shop monitored every 3 working very well: in existing and new companies stewards, members of months with slight increase in o Elections for works councils the EWCs and OHS incentives for the membership in last 6 and for OHS representatives representatives local officers months o Successful restructuring process in shipbuilding o Process of fusion Metalworkers` o Increase of wages and other between SMH and Croatia Trade Union of rights in concluded collective Autonomous Trade Croatia (SMH) agreements Union Workers in Power o New company collective Industry, Chemistry and agreements Non Metal Industry o Education of workers` (EKN) foreseen by 2009 representatives and members of works councils Re-organization of 2 new local o Establishing regional offices in 3 year project for Trade Union of the organizations in small at least 3 regions educating organizers in Industry, Energy Macedonia plants that were sold companies, 30 cooperation with Danish and Mines of after liquidations members. o Training for organizers Union 3F. Results Macedonia (SIER) expected in 2009 Montenegrin o Organized members o Increasing presence in key o Increasing presence in Montenegro Metalworkers Trade in SMEs plants key plants Union (MMTU) (Steel and Aluminum) (Steel and Aluminum) Kosovo SPMK no data Establishment of the no data "Automobile" Romania BNS FSLI Metal department. 1700 new members in 3 Draxlmaier plants Organizational changes 1
Country Organisation(s) Existing staff New staff Central – Regional – Company
Bosnia and Trade Union Metalworkers of Bosnia and 3 -6 -2 New staff Herzegovina Herzegovina 6 -0 -27 1 new responsible for regional and international relations 1 new TU officer responsible for Bulgaria Metalicy negotiation of different services for members and for technical equipment 3 more people (1 for regional and international relations, 2 for Bulgaria NF Metallurgy "Podkrepa" CL new projects on trade union education
Croatia Metalworkers` Trade Union of Croatia (SMH) 5 -8 -15 3 new company reps
Trade Union of Industry, Energy and Mines of 6 -0 -9 1 new regional reps expected in Macedonia Macedonia (SIER) 2008 Montenegrin Metalworkers Trade Union Use of Confederation staff 0 Montenegro (MMTU) 0 due to scarce financial Kosovo SPMK No data possibilities
No data Romania BNS FSLI Metal Organizational changes 2
Country Merger processes Membership Fee Membership Fee Company - Fed - Confed Changes 2007 2008
Intention to unite TU in the Intention to unit industry and 50%-30%-20% No plans before the Congress Bosnia and state BiH metalworkers trade union at 2009 Herzegovina national level No No 65%-20%-15% No Bulgaria
In process negotiations for No No Bulgaria merger
2006: Confederation of KSMK assembly in May 40%-40%-20% No plans the Metal and Chemical 2008. slow process Trade Unions of Croatia created; Croatia 2007 joint regional and Executive Committee meetings were held; 2008 the Assembly will be held No (regrettably) No (regrettably) 64%-30%-6% No plans until next Congress Macedonia 2011 Planned for the next period Planned for the next period Montenegro with industrial unions (waiting for proposals from grassroots organizations) Kosovo no data no data No data no data No data No changes. approx 11.000 Romania members pay dues to the Federation Training, Projects Regional/EU Cooperation 1
Country Organisation(s) Training Projects and Regional / EU Cooperation
2007 2008
o Seminar on education, o EMF Taiex o Sweden Trade Union SIF social dialogue, collective o ILO EMF o Sweden IF Metal Trade Union bargaining, protection at o Sweden Trade Union SIF Bosnia and Metalworkers of the workplace o Sweden IF Metal Herzegovina Bosnia and o Workshop with Herzegovina employers on better work conditions Seminars in OHS, o FES national project on exchange of National Level: strategies for experiences (2007-2008) o Joint project with Birlesik Metal membership, national o EU cofinanced project on informing and (Turkey) with the support of FES labour legislation, consulting employees (2007 - 2008) o EU cofinanced project informing and administrative capacities, o IG Metall project on exchange of consulting employees (2007 - 2008) recruiting young people experiences (2007 - 2008) o KNSB project for strengthening Bulgaria Metalicy and women, EU o SIMA Portugal project on informing and administrative capacity of TU officers citizenship, information consulting employees (2007) and consultation, o ILO EMF project International Level: collective bargaining o EMF TAIEX project o IG Metall project o EMF project on strengthening social o ILO EMF Project dialogue in SEE (2007) o EMF Taiex project
Training seminars on o ILO EMF o ILO EMF termination of o EMF Taiex o EMF Taiex employment, collective o Project for trade union education and o Project on TU education NF Metallurgy Bulgaria bargaining, OHS, collective labour agreements o 57 lectures "Podkrepa" CL regulation of occupational accidents and diseases Training, Projects Regional/EU Cooperation 2
Country Organisation(s) Training Projects and Regional / EU Cooperation 2007 2008 o For workers o EMF Taiex o Same data representatives - Seminar o ILO EMF on communication and o Restructuring of shipbuilding media (conference with IGMetall) o For members of work o UATUC ETUC BusinessEurope councils - how to win Workshop in Croatia and Conference Metalworkers` Trade election in March 2008 and on Social Dialogue and Social partners' Croatia Union of Croatia how to work in a council needs in Brussels (SMH) after election of members o 3F (Denmark) Conference of 4 trade o Seminars for OHS unions from former Yugoslavia and representatives Albania o International training course in Inzell on different issues o Training on EU o Project for cooperation with Danish In addition: integration o Seminars 3F (3 year project, first year of on social dialogue o implementation) for strengthening SIER o Cooperation with ICEM/IUL on seminars in functioning and capacities in organizing new members Education organizational structure, o Regional Cooperation with Fondacio organizing new members PAU I Solidaritat - Catalunya for o Seminars for young strengthening the capacities of 4 Trade Union of people and women unions in the region (Bosnia, Serbia, Industry, Energy and Macedonia o 2008 seminars on OHS (8 Kosovo and Macedonia) - 3rd year Mines of Macedonia seminars) since SIER is included (SIER) o Seminar on information o EMF ILO project management o Cooperation with IMF on training and o Joint seminar with Agro education on health and safety - Union and Construction starting this year. workers Union on basic o TAIEX Seminars (EMF) skills in rhetoric and basic knowledge in economics Training, Projects Regional/EU Cooperation 3
Country Organisation(s) Training Projects and Regional / EU Cooperation
2007 2008
o Seminars related to o IMF (project on H&S) Montenegrin Risk assessing in H & S, o SID Denmark (exchange of Montenegro Metalworkers Trade social dialogue, collective experiences) Union (MMTU) bargaining and EU o 3F regional conference integration o Expecting more cooperation in 2009
o Seminar on Social o European Integration in Economy - Dialogue and Collective Struga Macedonia Bargaining in France o Perspective for a good future in SEE - Budapest o Seminar on no o Mobilisation of Trade Union Kosovo SPMK discrimination of women membership - Cetinje in the place of work o Practice changes and insecurity at the work place - Sarajevo
No training organized by o FNV Netherlands MATRA on striking the Federation deals
o ILO EMF Project Romania BNS FSLI Metal o Establishment of 2 centers for expertise and vocational training for the AERO and NAVAL (accessing final resources from ESF for project using the 2 centers) Main challenges for the Future 1
Country Organisation(s) Challenges
2007 2008 No data available o To complete labour related laws and insist on their application o Better control of privatization process o To create conditions for faster employment, Trade Union reduction of unemployment Bosnia and Metalworkers of o To design development employment programmes Herzegovina Bosnia and o To improve and enact social programs and OHS Herzegovina programmes o To enlarge membership o Cooperation with other industrial trade unions with the final goal of founding an association of industrial trade unions o Organizing of new members same data o Consolidation among the federations in metal sector o Increase of wages o Improvement of working conditions o Trainings of young trade union leaders o Development of the committees for work with women Bulgaria Metalicy o Development of the employees’ sport activities o Working out and carrying out different projects aimed at strengthening workers’ capacity and knowledge o Establishing information network among the trade unions from the region within SEEF Main challenges for the Future 2
Country Organisation(s) Challenges
2007 2008 o Organizing of new members o Making a meeting with all trade union organizations o Consolidation among the federations in metal sector from South Eastern Region o Increase of wages o Improvement of the web page of the organization o Improvement of working conditions o Trainings of young trade union leaders o Development of the committees for work with NF Metallurgy Bulgaria women "Podkrepa" CL o Working out and carrying out different projects aimed at strengthening workers’ capacity and knowledge o Establishing information network among the trade unions from the region within SEEF o Creation of webpage
o Increased number of members in existing and new In addition: companies o Continuing in activities related to KSMK o Victory in elections for works councils and elections confederation for occupational safety and health representatives in March 2008 Metalworkers` Trade o Successful restructuring process in shipbuilding Croatia Union of Croatia o Increase of wages and other rights in concluded (SMH) collective agreements and conclusion of new collective agreements o Education of workers` representatives and members of works councils Main challenges for the Future 3
Country Organisation(s) Challenges
2007 2008
o Further development of the social dialogue and o Same priorities completing the collective bargaining process on company level. o Negotiations about increasing wages and Trade Union of establishing system of guaranteed by law minimum Industry, Energy and wages Macedonia Mines of Macedonia o Training the workers representatives the new Law of (SIER) safety and health at work. o More efforts on organizing new members, developing the regional structure and improving educational activities. o Dealing with expected closures and job losses
Montenegrin o Organizing of new members Montenegro Metalworkers Trade o Merging with industrial trade unions Union (MMTU) o Decreasing of informal economy in metal sector
Action in Social Dialogue, Collective Bargaining, Kosovo SPMK Security at the workplace and Trade Union Education
o Recruitment of new trade union organizations Romania BNS FSLI Metal o Organizational and financial counselling CONCLUSIONS
Collective Bargaining
• Domination of company level agreements
• Some improvements in branch agreements (but still difficulties, partly due to low organization rate of employers)
• Mostly agreements focused on wages increase CONCLUSIONS
Conflicts or collective actions
• Several strikes
• Protest actions
Mainly because of wages delay
• other kind of actions? CONCLUSIONS
Social and economic developments
Points in commun
•Ongoing negotiations on new Labour Law (almost everywhere)
•Restructuring processes and privatizations
Good practice: SMH (Croatia) conducted a survey among workers CONCLUSIONS
Organizing • Increasing of membership figures; positive trends • Lack of human resources (due to scarce financial possibilities)
Priorities • New agreements (company and branch levels) • Training Good Practice: NF Metallurgy Podkrepa(Bulgaria), training for young trade unionists and committees for work with women CONCLUSIONS
Mergers
•SMBiH (BiH): Intention to unify industry and metalworkers trade union at national level
•SMH (Croatia): slow process with KSMK
•MMTU (Montenegro): slow process with other industrial unions CONCLUSIONS
Training, projects, Regional/EU cooperation
• Training mainly on OHS, collective bargaining, information and communication
Best Practices 9Metalicy (Bulgaria): recruiting of young people and women 9SPMK (Kosovo): seminar on discrimination of women at the workplace 9SIER (Macedonia): seminars for young trade unionists and women CONCLUSIONS
Projects, Regional/EU cooperation
•ILO-EMF project (Croatia - MAcedonia) •TAIEX •IMF project on OHS •Danish 3F (some of Tus involved)
Few information on bilateral/regional cooperation •BiH – Sweden (SIF) •Bulgaria – Germany (IGMetall) •Croatia - Gemany •Macedonia – Spain (Fondatio PAU I Solidaritat) •Montenegro – Denmark (SID) •Romania (BNL FSLI) – Netherlands (NFV) CONCLUSIONS
Main challenges for the future
Linked to organizing priorities
Mainly: •Organizing of new members/ enlarging membership
•Training Mauro Martini [email protected]
www.emf-fem.org