News

In the framework of a EU Commerce social dialogue project on improving capacity building in new EU and candidate countries, on 3 and 4 December in Istanbul, trade union affiliates and employers from Turkey Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia discussed trade union organising strategies and assessed social dialogue in their respective countries.

On the first day, trade unions affiliates from Turkey and Croatia and for the first time in a UNI Europa Commerce meeting, trade union organisations from Serbia and Montenegro exchanged successful stories on organising. In particular, the three affiliated unions from Turkey, Sosyal IS, Koop IS and Tez Koopis respectively presented the campaigns in Leroy Merlin, Ikea and Tesco Kipa. All the three campaigns led to a substantial growth in trade union memberships and demonstrated how a very well planned campaign with the right leaders and the international solidarity support strengthened the bargaining power of trade unions in Turkey.

On the second day, trade unions and employers met jointly to discuss challenges and possible areas of cooperation in the social dialogue field. In all the four countries, tripartite social dialogue is weak and government rarely listen to social partners’ concerns and real needs. The difficulties in implementing ILO Conventions on the right to strike and freedom of association as well as the EU social acquis are clear obstacles to improve social dialogue, particularly in Turkey. The discussion also involved an assessment of the recent reforms of the labour law code in Turkey and Croatia.

As a conclusion, the following areas were identified as potential areas for future cooperation between trade unions and employers in the commerce sector:

• Fight against Informal economy and undeclared work
• Health and safety and the prevention of accidents at work
• Promoting vocational training
• Addressing the impact on the introduction of new technologies
• Combat child labour
• Promote gender equality