PERC PAN-EUROPEAN TRADE UNION COUNCIL CRE CONSEIL REGIONAL EUROPEEN ВЕРС ВСЕЕВРОПЕЙСКИЙ РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЙ СОВЕТ

Transcription

1 2GA/Agenda Item 3/E PERC PAN-EUROPEAN TRADE UNION COUNCIL CRE CONSEIL REGIONAL EUROPEEN ВЕРС ВСЕЕВРОПЕЙСКИЙ РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЙ СОВЕТ 2 nd PERC General Assembly, Brussels, 6 December 2011 Agenda Item 3: Presentatin f draft PERC Prgramme fr : PERC POLICY PLATFORM (DRAFT) 1. The Pan Eurpean Reginal Cuncil (PERC) was created in 2007 as a specific structure in the glbal trade unin architecture. The PERC regin encmpasses a wide diversity f types f ecnmies and scieties with their respective industrial relatins systems, labur and scial prtectin plicies. At the same time there has been a clear trend f increasing interdependence between the cuntries and their perspectives fr develpment acrss Eurpe and beynd. 2. PERC is a structure f the ITUC called fr by the necessity t respnd t the cmmn challenges and pprtunities fr trade unins in Eurpe in the prcesses f glbalisatin, eurpeanisatin and, in the current perid, t the impact f the crisis in the regin. PERC aims at facilitating debates and jint initiatives, and at advancing trade unin plicies in areas f cmmn interest, bridging ver the diversity and preventing fragmentatin f trade unin actin field in Eurpe. T these ends PERC cntributes t building slidarity and cllective actin in the regin, guided by ITUC and ETUC prgrammes and plicy rientatins. PERC regin: general verview and perspectives 3. Eurpe, is at a crssrad f plicy chices and at a critical stage in their develpment. The packages f refrms and ther plicy initiatives undertaken in the cming mnths will shape the future f the cuntries their ecnmies, scieties and plitical prcesses indeed the demcratic nature f develpment fr a lng perid ahead. 4. With certain exceptins, the plicies aimed t secure exits frm the crisis have effectively: Facilitated scialising the csts fr saving reckless financial institutins at taxpayer - mstly wrking peple s- expense and shifted the burden f recvery n their shulders; Further exacerbated by the austerity plicies, decimated public sectr wages, jbs, pensins, emplyment pprtunities and jepardised the future f public services and the quality f human develpment; Culminated in several cuntries in a rising wave f fficial assaults n established labur, scial and trade unin rights in vilatin f ILO, Cuncil f Eurpe, and EU standards with increasing ripple effect in a number f thers. 5. The plicies adpted r in the pipeline have prfund effects n the cntext, the cntent and the practical peratin f trade unins. Blatant disrespect fr fundamental rights and freedms enshrined in ILO standards and the Eurpean scial mdel threaten t

2 - 2 - dilute established guarantees fr trade unins and undermine their presence bth acrss Eurpe and glbally. 6. Histry suggests that, alng with the severe pressures n wrkers, their families and trade unins, a crisis f such magnitude tends t pen the space fr further challenges t the status qu. Faced with new plicy cncepts and business mdels as well as new patterns f structuring, mbilisatin and cllective actin f trade unin have emerged as respnses t such situatins. Thse develpments have drawn strength and built n the rising imprtance f fundamental trade unin values and standards: The driving frce in human beings fr freedm and dignity in their lives at the wrkplace, at hme and in the wider sciety that underpins all demands f trade unins. The imprtance f effective slidarity and mbilisatin capacities acrss prfessinal and scial grups natinally and amng cuntries t back genuine scial dialgue, cllective bargaining and plitical exchange. The develpment f clear visin and firm psitins n matters f principle and demcracy, alng the capacity fr flexible respnses in structuring trade pwer t prmte them and prvide guidance fr the wider sciety. The imprtance f prtecting and further cnslidating ILO labur standards and the Eurpean Scial Mdel as a basis fr exiting the crisis. They prvide the basis fr pst-crisis arrangements leading t fairer and mre inclusive, demcratic scieties and efficient, prductive and sustainable ecnmies in the future. Place and rle f PERC in trade unin plicy-making 7. The prspects f the unflding crisis seem t be scillating between the danger f a secnd dip, triggering wrld-wide recessin and a prtracted perid f lw grwth f the ecnmies in Eurpe. Trade unins can be faced with persistent shrtages f emplyment pprtunities a cntinuing jb crisis with declining r stagnating incmes matched by rising inequalities amng and within cuntries, scial and prfessinal grups, leading t even deeper scial exclusin. Unless the currently prevalent plitical mindset and nature f gvernance is changed these cnditins will prvide further incentives fr pressuring and marginalising trade unins and scial dialgue in the plitical prcess. 8. The key characteristic f such a cntext fr wrk will bviusly be instability and uncertainty. The difficulties in freseeing develpments will necessitate higher flexibility and capacity fr mbilisatin fr trade unin plicies t respnd t particular situatins acrss cuntries in Eurpe. 9. Fr the efficient peratin f PERC in these cnditins, the annual planning cycle will be even mre imprtant as the key instrument t address uncertainty, prviding an active platfrm fr trade unin activities. 10. The current activity/ plicy platfrm is aimed at utlining the scpe and rientatin f PERC wrk in view f its specific nature as a reginal structure f the ITUC and its ptential fr clser trade unin cperatin acrss the regin. T these ends a number f pririty areas fr engagement f PERC are identified - t be further elabrated in the annual actin plans - and t prvide fcus fr the activities f the members as well as PERC cnstituent structures, netwrks, task frces, prject teams, etc.

3 PERC areas f pririty Unflding f the crisis and its impact n patterns f ecnmic gvernance, the crisis f emplyment, distributin f wealth and scial chesin. Twards a new mdel f sustainable ecnmic grwth. The fall ut f the crisis n human and trade unin rights, n established systems f industrial relatins, scial dialgue and the lgic f cllective actin. Prtecting the achievements and advancing trade unin unity f actin n varius levels. Cnfrnting the multiplying lines f inequalities, t prevent erding the base fr slidarity and cllective identities amng wrkers and citizens. Defending the demcratic nature and legitimacy f the plitical prcess thrugh participatry structures and dialgue in the plicy-making prcess. Stabilisatin f trade unin rganisatins, strengthening their base and status at the wrkplace, sectr and natinal level negtiating prcesses. I. The unflding crisis and its impact n patterns f ecnmic gvernance, distributin f wealth, and n emplyment and scial chesin. i.a) Overall utlk and challenges: Cntinuing austerity plicies leading t a secnd dip recessin r a prtracted perid f lw grwth under the dictates f the financial markets. Deepening divergent trends in different ecnmic cntexts in Eurpe: creperiphery, different nature f ecnmic dynamics, resurces, ratinality f ecnmic and scial agents. Danger f jbless grwth, prtracted emplyment crisis particularly hitting yung peple, lng term unemplyment leading t persistent and rising pverty levels; Declining r stagnating wage levels, deepening mismatch with prductivity and falling share f labur in ttal natinal incme; Incentives fr expansin f precarius wrk, and the shadw ecnmy with particularly dangerus cnsequences fr wmen and yung peple; Privatisatins and assault n public services undermining future individual and scial develpment, particularly in situatins with lw rate flat tax systems and systemic prblems with state capture and crruptin; Munting pressures n the family and cmmunity chesin due t rising levels f pverty and stressful wrking and living cnditins; rising vilence particularly against wmen. i.b) Brave and innvative ecnmic plicies are needed t avid dangers, t cnfrnt the challenges and prceed twards develping mdels fr sustainable scial market ecnmies. Plitical elites have failed t meet the level f the challenge and allwed Eurpean ecnmies t slip twards a new recessin. At the same time, munting anxiety and anger ver irrespnsible ecnmic plicies have als demnstrated impressive mbilising ptential.

4 - 4 - i.c) Trade unin plicies. Three main surces f plicy develpment and interactin will be crucial fr shaping future develpments in this pririty area: the need t cntrl and manage glbal financial system and the glbalisatin prcess; EU effrts t find real slutins and cntain damage f the crisis; and the capacity f trade unins t develp alternative and adequate anti-crisis plicy respnses fr Eurpe. The directin and cntent f the unin plicies alng the first tw lines will be utlined and implemented primarily by ITUC/GUF/TUAC and ETUC/ETUI. It will be fr natinal trade unins t assess and rient their strategies t the best pprtunities fr impact n their particular situatins. i.d). Orientatin f PERC activities The PERC will fcus primarily n securing the smth and timely infrmatin cncerning develpments in the plicies t vercme the crisis, exchange f expertise and upgrading f skills f the relevant experts r plicy actrs. T these ends PERC will actively supprt and participate within its level f cmpetence in the initiatives f ITUC and ETUC and ther structures, e.g. the Cuncil f Glbal Unins, the wrking grup n ecnmic plicy at the Trade Unin Advisry Cmmittee (at the OECD), etc. Stabilise and further develp the utput f the netwrks f TU ecnmic experts in SEE and NIS fr their respective cnfederatins t use. Further disseminate ideas related t the cncept f the new grwth mdel, industrial plicies, climate-resilient ecnmic grwth, the new OECD Guidelines fr MNCs, IFIs plicies, etc. Use the meetings f PERC discussin frums e.g. the Summer schl, SEE TU Frum, Wmen and Yuth cmmittee, etc. t prmte knwledge and understanding f the verall plicies r particular elements and dimensins f develpments in the crisis perid and beynd; Supprt integratin and visualisatin f gender specific and yuth cnsequences f all trade unin plicies and actins; Imprve the infrmatin flw thrugh the PERC website and newsletter; Supprt as much as pssible prjects in this area supprted by external actrs/ western trade unins in CEE regin. Pay attentin t cases/situatins where the crisis plicies and realities trigger particularly dangers fr certain trade unins/ cuntries. II. ii.a) The fall ut f the crisis n human and trade unin rights, n systems f industrial relatins, genuine scial dialgue and the lgic f cllective actin. Prtecting the achievements and advancing trade unin unity f actin n varius levels. Overall utlk and challenges The crisis and the resrt t austerity plicies has been increasingly used by a range f gvernments t launch severe attacks n established fundamental trade unin and scial rights, particularly n the structures and prcedures fr scial dialgue and cllective bargaining. There has been a clearly rising wave f this type f anti-unin plicies in a number f cuntries thrughut Eurpe bth in EU member-states and further afield. The tide has been ften inspired by interests external t the system, e.g. the American Chamber f Cmmerce, assciatins f freign investrs and unin-busters. Gvernments have fllwed their advice despite agreements reached by the natinal scial partners n the issues and fficial ILO pinin that it leads t vilatins f internatinal

5 - 5 - labur standards. The new wave f cases has cmplicated and additinally fuelled the already identified cases f systems in danger like Belarus and Gergia. This pririty area raises fundamental challenges fr the future wrk f PERC members as it systematically undermines the legal, institutinal and prcedural basis fr the peratin f industrial relatins and scial prtectin plicies. ii.b) Trade unin plicies The cmplexity f the challenges and the pssible damage t the raisn d être f trade uninism makes trade unin respnses the central pririty f wrk thrugh cmbining all available channels and instruments fr influence within the ILO, CE/ESC (R) and EU institutins. Successful interventins will bviusly require maximum cperatin f ITUC HTUR Department, PERC HTUR netwrk and ETUC/ETUI in their respective areas f cmpetence. ii.c) Orientatin f PERC activities In the prcess f crdinating respnses and fcusing jint effrts n the necessary target PERC has already shaped its place and pssibilities t cntribute t the prcess. The necessities inevitably demand t further stabilise the apprach and t cntinue searching fr imprving the efficiency f the cntributin: Stabilise and imprve the participatin and pattern f peratin f the PERC HTUR netwrk as the main vehicle fr cmmunicatin and rientatin f natinal rganisatins, fr preparatin and launching cases/campaigns as challenges arise. Securing clse cperatin with ETUC/ETUI fr mnitring and maintaining infrmatin flw amng all cases under attack and als disseminatin t ther interested rganisatins. Maintaining and upgrading the prfessinal skills f the participants f the TU legal experts netwrks as direct inputs in analysing and shaping relevant appraches by natinal rganisatins. Organising special events n specific ht issues/cuntry meetings t develp specific understanding f prblems r supprt fr individual cases facing special difficulties. Encuraging and supprting all ther structures t identify their angle f interest and way t cntribute in cnfrnting the challenges in this pririty area. III. iii.a) Cnfrnting the multiplying lines f inequalities, t prevent erding the base fr slidarity and cllective identities amng wrkers and citizens. Overall utlk and challenges The crisis has brught the nature and effects f inequality in mdern scieties t the frefrnt f plitical debates in Eurpe and beynd. The crisis has deepened the effect f the established types f inequality gender, ethnic, age, etc. and brught new dimensins t the prblem. Grwing inequalities, particularly resulting in wider incme gap and plarisatin have been fficially recgnised as a crucial generatr f the devastating impact f the current crisis. This further strengthens the cncerns f trade unins, as inequality has been rising acrss the bard in Eurpe, even in cuntries with successful recveries. Austerity plicies, with wage freezes and jb cuts are intensifying the accumulatin f explsive material fr a new and mre devastating crisis. On the way the prcess equally tends t unravel the very

6 - 6 - fabrics f scieties and threatens demcratic structures and prcesses n all levels frm the individual persn t the EU, and internatinally. Particularly alarming are the increasing number f situatins resulting in the cumulative impact f multiple lines f inequality and discriminatin cncentrated n individuals, specific grups, regins, etc. Such cases cannt be dealt with n the basis f addressing verlapping challenges ne at a time and require a hlistic apprach t finding real and lng term slutins. The verall effect - peple and scieties gradually internalising the self-cnsciusness f unavidable victims based n feelings f hpelessness and pwerlessness is ne - and prbably the biggest - danger fr the future f trade unins. Rendering peple inactive is what paves the way t undermining cllective identities and actins and successful manipulatins by ppulist, natinalist, extremist, ligarchic and ther nn-demcratic frces. Identifying the main causes f inequalities inevitably starts with inequalities in the fields f: emplyment, incmes and wealth distributin access t scial prtectin access t financial, credit, technlgical and prduct markets fr different types f cmpanies and respective effects n the state f the wrkfrce e.g. t big t fail, MNCs, SMEs, etc. pressure n nrmal peratin f public services differentiatin alng scial and prfessinal status, age, gender, etc. gegraphical differentiatin (cuntry, regin) ethn-cultural, religius, etc. health and safety plicies at the wrkplace, green ecnmies, healthy and sustainable envirnment. Infrmal/shadw ecnmy and crruptin/state capture iii.b) Trade Unin plicies The patterns f generating inequalities acrss Eurpe differ substantially amng cuntries and cntexts and prduce inequalities in varius cmbinatins. The rle f labur and scial plicies in the EU, i.e. the traditinal Eurpean scial mdel, will cntinue t be a key reference pint and facilitate the rientatin f plicies but can nt be expected t exert much frmatting influence utside EU, apart frm SEE regin. In additin the latest appraches t ecnmic gvernance in the EU are further weakening that ptential. Develping plicies in this pririty area will be prbably dminated by initiatives n the natinal level where lcal cntexts and cntingencies will exert direct impact. In that case special attentin shuld be placed n hrizntal cmmunicatin amng trade unins t avid pressures fr scial dumping in a race t the bttm prcess legitimated by an alleged necessity fr cmpetitiveness. iii.c) Orientatin f PERC activities PERC will facilitate and supprt the existing structures and netwrks aiming t address successfully the multiple challenges f inequality: The netwrks f ecnmists and legal experts will lead the way, backed by expertise frm ITUC, ETUI, ETUC and TUAC alng with cmplementary supprt frm rganisatins n a bilateral basis.

7 - 7 - Cntinuing and intensifying the cperatin f PER wmen and yuth cmmittees with their cunterparts in ITUC and ETUC and external partners. Strengthening the efficiency f the frums f TU leaders fr plicy discussin and exchange the Summer Schl, reginal frums like SEE TU Frum r specialised thematic meetings, etc. and prvide guidance fr the netwrks and fr prject develpment and implementatin. Prjects in particular areas t develp ideas fr refrms/adjustment f systems in plicies in particular cntexts. IV. iv.a) Defending demcracy and the legitimacy f the plitical prcess thrugh participatry structures and dialgue in the plicy-making prcess. Overall utlk and challenges The transitin prcess in CEE cuntries cnslidated the verwhelming dminance f electral demcracy ver cnstitutinal demcracy in different frms and intensity. In the cntext f the crisis and austerity plicies similar phenmena can be identified acrss Eurpe. The current situatin is clearly marked by a serius ersin f scial capital in practically all scieties, expressed als in the lwest level f trust in plitical parties and institutins. Grwing inequality and differentiatin f the sci-plitical base pens new pprtunities fr ppulist/ natinalist/ extremist plitical frces t advance and exert a frmative impact n natinal and EU plicies. Simultaneusly, space fr plicy-making has been prgressively curtailed by the pwer f the markets, particularly financial nes, big MNCs and business assciatins, while natinal is svereignty limited by the rescue plicies f the EU and IMF. The pressures have been increasingly cnfrnted frm belw - by an impressive mbilisatin f civil sciety. The mvements f the yung and thers are unravelling the legitimacy f current plicy-making prcesses and the actrs invlved. In that line f cnflict trade unins can face the danger f being seen as part f the elites frm belw and marginal truble-makers frm the tp. iv.b) Trade unin plicies T expand the reach f trade unin plicies and generate supprt frm varius crners f sciety accepting unin views f the future and interested in prtecting and advancing demcracy. Taking int accunt the weaker psitin f left plitical frces, TUs will have t cncentrate mre n the search f alternative plicy ideas, effectively disseminate them and imprve mbilisatin ptential. The plitical resurces f the CE and the Secretariat f the ESC(R) have been already used n ccasin and the practice needs t be develped. Alng with that line there is a need t test the usefulness f the UN Cmmissin fr Eurpe. iv.c) Orientatin f PERC activities PERC can prvide an additinal channel fr infrmatin and interactin with ITUC initiatives as well as utilising ETUC links with Eurpean institutins, in the first place with CE and ESC (R). Expanding the reach f trade unins t alternative actrs can bst the effects f participatry demcracy n the grund and strengthen the status and psitin f trade unins in the scial dialgue prcess. Cmmunicatin plicies have a critical rle t play fr the success f trade unin effrts. V. Stabilisatin f trade unin rganisatins, strengthening their base and status at the wrkplace, sectr and the natinal level negtiating prcess.

8 - 8 - v.a) Overall utlk and challenges TUs rganisatinal develpment fr quite sme time had been marked by a systematic lss f membership. This is nw spreading t the best systems and hitting acrss the regin. Attempts t ffset this trend have brught limited success - at best stabilising levels f uninisatin, but n generalised reversal f the prcess can be expected in the freseeable future. In a number f cases, particularly in Eastern Eurpe, trade unins have already identified prblems with the structuring f rganisatins in relatin t the lgic and peratin f cllective bargaining prcess and ther imprtant dimensins that need t be addressed. v.b) Trade unin plicies Imprving membership levels is a critical challenge fr trade unins in a number f directins. It is first f all an efficient shield against questining the representativity and legitimacy f rganisatins in the scial dialgue prcess. In the centre f such plicy appraches are the specific rganisatinal settings within each natinal cntext. The external inputs in prcesses f adjustment and imprvement f internal peratin can mainly fllw internal initiatives and prvide relevant reference pints and experiences frm utside t help initiate debates and facilitate inter-rganisatinal exchanges. v.c) Orientatin f PERC activities The need t cntinue and intensify the wrk f the task frce n recruiting and rganising, and n cmmunicatin plicies cannt be verestimated. It is necessary t make its peratin mre regular and efficient alng with expanding the range f pssible interested participants and feed results in the wrk f ther PERC structures and initiatives