Forty senior representatives from 24 trade union centres in 12 central and eastern European countries participated in a week long seminar in Budapest in April. This was the first major event in a two-year workers' education project funded by the Dutch Government and conducted by ILO's Workers' Education Branch (EDUC) and ILO-CEET.
The main topic was the role of trade unions in the ILO. The applicability of many of the most important international labour standards were discussed. Niels Enevoldsen and Zdanek Gregor from EDUC and Jacques Monat gave most of the lectures. The Team's objectives were presented by most of its members, and the staff administered the seminar's arrangements.
In addition to lectures by experts, participants discussed in working groups various practical issues, such as freedom of association, collective bargaining and building trade union structures.
The Team's Director, in his opening speech, outlined seven fears and seven hopes for trade unions:
1. Fear that the Voice of workers will be eroded;
2. Fear that in an era of consumerism and individualism, unions will not be legitimate representatives of workers and their families;
3. Fear that unions will only cover a shrinking core of full-time workers;
4. Fear of losing membership and not building representativity;
5. Fear of fragmentation of the union movement:
6. Fear of erosion of principles of solidarity, equality and decent income differentials.
7. Fear that international solidarity of workers will be eroded for ever. Seven hopes for trade unions:
1. Unions will participate in the restructuring of society so that economic democracy comes with 'privatisation';
2. Unions will succeed in promoting industrial democracy;
3. Unions will incorporate those outside regular full-time wage labour;
4. Unions will help reduce inequality and fragmentation between groups in the labour market;
5. Unions will be effective partners in governance of social and labour policy, developing new forms of tripartism;
6. Unions will promote creative, flexible work in conditions of social and economic security, helping to reduce unemployment;
7. Unions will become a vehicle for 'dynamic efficiency'.
The seminar was held at the head-quarters of the Hungarian Chemical Workers' Union, whose President Lajos Focze welcomed participants. The evening before, the MSZOSZ president Nagy Sandor hosted a reception for participants. From one of the Dutch trade union centres, CNV, Marjon Oostveen participated in the seminar.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend this particular project to trade unions in countries not covered by the European Union's PHARE structure. The reason is the funding. However, EDUC and the Team are developing activities with those organizations, particularly in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the ex-Yugoslavia. POA.
