News

UNI affiliated unions from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark met this weekend to discuss and agree plans for union growth in their sector. Over 40 delegates from 5 trade unions met for 3 days for a programme organised by their organisatuion SUN. SUN is a network for the cleaning sector in the Nordic countries. The SUN President Lise Myrvold set out the challenge for the unions in a sector characterised by low pay and poor conditions. Union density in the Nordic states is very high - ranging from 50 - 80 % - but pressures of outsourcing and globalisation are threatening this level of union organisation.

The conference also looked at each union and its organisiang campaigns and also discussed the `Cleaners Charter `developed by the ISS Network. The Charter is to be raised again at European Social Dialogue meetings and directly with European Works Councils as a means of signing up contractors to avoid the race to the bottom when competing for work.

The ISS Network meets again in Brussels on the 1st and 2nd October.