News

Yesterday, 1 June,  UNI Europa opened its commerce conference in Gdansk, Poland – the City in which trade unionism in Poland was born under the leadership of Lech Walesa. The Conference is taking place in the European Solidarity Centre, newly opened in 2014, situated in the shipyards where labour history was written in the 70s and 80s of the last century.

Speakers reflected on the history of the conference’s location  while pointing out the challenges commerce unions in Europe face.

John Hannet, President of UNI Europa Commerce, reminded delegates: “It is a human right for workers to join trade unions. We must fight for this right every day and not take it for granted that these rights have already been won.”

Christy Hoffman, Deputy General Secretary of UNI Global Union warned: “Low pay, rising inequality and union decline is becoming the norm in Europe and we must work together to change this.”

Focusing on the  situation in Poland, Alfred Bujara, President of the Commerce Sector NSZZ Solidarnosc argued: “Democracy is an ongoing project and we must continue to fight for decent work which is crucial to the development of democracy.”

Piotr Duda, President of NSZZ, Solidarnosc spoke about the development of independent trade unionism in Poland, the importance of Solidarnosc for the union movement in Eastern European and what has yet to be realised. In commenting on the brave fight the workers in the Gdansk shipyard took on in the 1980s: “In 2015, low wages, employers denying workers their right to join unions… this is not the freedom we fought for in Poland.”

The theme of the UNI Europa Commerce Conference is “Trade Unions Together for Quality Jobs.” During 2 days delegates will discuss resolutions on Decent Work in Retail, the struggle against Sunday Work and unsocial hours, and the promotion of Social Dialogue in the Commerce Sector.

Union delegates from 31 unions in 23 countries are attending the Conference, with almost 50% women representatives.