CNV

This year’s Middle and eastern European Seminar of the Christian trade unionists took place from 13 to 16 May in Graz, Austria. It was attended by representatives from Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria. "Modernising Labour Law to meet the challenges of the 21st Century," was the main theme.

A presentation was given by the Head of the European Commission in Austria, Mag Richard Kuehnel. He particularly referred to the policy paper 2020, according to which in the EU a long-term way of thinking in social sector takes place and additionally a group of experts will be engaged intensively with regards to the development of people in Europe until the year 2030 . In this regard, current social and societal necessary measures will be developed.

The European social model provides for three particular aspects to be considered together. The measures are to be considered under the economic basic conditions, the social measures should be noted and the economic feasibility is to be taken into account.

In the new labour law flexibility will be necessary, while, however, above all the maintenance of security of the working-place for the particular employees is guaranteed. In the future the EU wants to support, in particular, the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, multilingualism and the participation of workers in business-related decision-taking (participation).

The EU further wants to advance the development of training and skills, which will lead to a reduction in the number of the poor. Poverty should be reduced by 20% in Europe. The following six groups are subject to more urgent attention:
particular endangered groups of people will have a special separate position, single parents will be allowed and provided with a vocational education, older women will be guaranteed a job, minorities must be protected in general, people with disabilities to be integrated in the real working life and the homeless are to be provided with social security.

The European Commission is aware that the labour-markets are through technical progress as well as by globalization in increased competition, this should therefore lead to corresponding new frameworks. Collective agreements are recognized as important tools for adaptation of legal principles. The increase of atypical employment contracts, temporary contracts, the temporary employment relationships of part-time and freelance employees caries the risk of social dumping, and could cause a weakened social protection. Possible transitions between the listed employment-conditions should not result in any adverse impact on the employee. In atypical conditions, the legal uncertainties should quickly be eliminated. Temporary employment relationships can be regarded as temporary model, however, it should be prevented that this develops into something of a permanent condition.

For many years the Working-Time Directive has been a continuous theme and the "European Council" still could not come to an agreement. In the future the mobility of employees will have an even higher priority. Undeclared work, which in some countries has again increased, is distorting competition and therefore appropriate measures will have to be found to halt this.

Finally it should be noted that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights   is compulsory for all countries - with the exception of England, the Czech Republic and Poland - and in it a chapter is included on "Solidarity". The EU intends to implement this concept in practical realities. Established are the following rights: 

• informing and consulting employees;
• collective bargaining;
• employment mediation;
• protection against unjust dismissal and redundancy;
• decent working-conditions;
• prohibition of child-labour;
• reconciling work and family;
• social protection;
• health protection.

The EU is pushing the social dialogue both at company and national and international level and also wants to incorporate in all decisions in the Union, both in the trade unions as in the employers-associations. At the end the speaker pointed out, that the EU does not let the employees down! (Homepage: www.europa.eu, language, politics, socialpolitics)

In two other statements, the Works Council activity and the development of new collective agreements in NON-profit organizations and in church services were indicated and concrete fields of action were fenced off. It turns out that not just in this range an extensive participation and shared responsibility should not only be approved of, but also that they have a positive impact on the people of these organizations. On the basis of this, the participants discuss in their countries to advance participation in these ranges (social services and government departments of churches) drive.

In an extensive report mutual activities and successes have been shared and the impact of financial crisis on employees discussed. At the end the participants have adopted the following resolution:

• Wages and salaries are particularly in the low pay ranges (even in times of crisis) not only to be maintained but to increase at least by the amount of the rise of the cost of living, so people do not slide down into poverty despite employment.
• Collective agreements, guarantee the minimum income and have proven themselves during the crisis in the respective sectors, as a stabilizing factor. Therefore we demand of all the sectors the conclusion of collective agreements.
• In some sectors, it came to significant staff reductions. This is unacceptable, because the companies have even more in difficult times, a "social responsibility" towards their employees.
• It was also mentioned that the pressure on the employees was increased dramatically. We require a responsible approach to the transfer of functions. It is unacceptable that workers get sick at and through work.
• The delegates of the countries present have voted unanimously for dialogue and constructive talks with the employers' representatives and the governments and see demonstrations and strikes to be just to assert their legitimate claims when other means seem impossible.
• The discussions have shown once again that even in the present time, a united stand by all employees and the membership of the union is absolutely necessary
• The economic crisis, however, also affects foreign workers, which means that they more and more must return to their home-countries, resulting in a dramatic increase of the unemployment rate in these countries. We demand for the necessary measures to ensure that the interests of these people are also taken into account.

Toni Liedlbauer

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