Frank Hantke

1
Frank Hantke

• ITUC Conference EUROPE 20 Years of
  Transformation. What next?
• Vienna, 15-17 September 2010
• Session 1 Transformation of IR systems and trade
  unions strategies and outcomes
• Ideas for discussion
• Postal address D-10785 Berlin, Hiroshimastraße 28
• Tel. [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail frank.hantke_at_fes.de
• Internet http\www.fes.de

2
Overview

• Preliminary remarks
• What should trade unions be achieving in Europe?
• How well are the unions prepared for this?
• What might be the next structural steps to take?

3
Preliminary remarks

• There is currently a kind of mutual dependency
  whereby the European trade union movement is as
  strong as its weakest national organisation/affili
  ate ? National organisations have a
  responsibility vis-à-vis their other partners in
  EU Member States
• Unions in the West and East long ago reached a
  consensus in many areas (re the problems faced
  and the demands made)? Consequently, it makes
  sense to plan for the future together, by helping
  each other
• No limitation to an internal view among the
  unions in transition countries without also
  speaking to the unions in Western Europe
• Against this backdrop, focus on the requisite
  skills and possible ways in which the unions can
  perform their key tasks ? Active, unbiased,
  competent representation of the interests of all
  workers in all employment-related processes
  (ranging from strikes to social dialogue)

4
What should trade unions be achieving in Europe?

• Basic underlying principle Bear in mind the
  interests of all workers (Every worker must have
  the right and opportunity to join a union and
  gain protection!)
• First put your own house in order by being
  strong in your own country
• Boost union membership, gain broader
  representation in the private sector
• Achieve unity (in key areas), speaking with one
  voice on behalf of all workers
• Boost assertiveness the ability to strike at
  sectoral level
• Build up know-how be an active partner in
  co-determination, social dialogue and in social
  legislation (lobbying)
• with a view to developing your own,
  country-specific models on the implementation of
  demands, in keeping with the European Social
  Model
• Any resulting active contributions on the further
  development of international rules and
  regulations -gt enforceability at European level
  (by boosting content-related and organisational
  capacity)
• Because to an individual worker a Europe-wide
  arrangement is worth only as much as their
  unions ability to ensure its enforcement in the
  respective country, sector and company.

5
How well are the unions prepared for this?

• Has greater unity been achieved despite trade
  union pluralism?
• Have new work domains been unionised (especially
  in the private sector)?
• tertiary sector (services)
• SMEs
• informal sector
• women and youth
• Has party-political independence been maintained
  or achieved?
• Are todays unions able to fund their own
  activities? Will they remain able to do so in the
  future?
• Have internal education/training and
  qualification programmes been sustainably
  consolidated?
• Are the respective sectoral union organisations
  capable of mounting strikes? Can they enforce and
  conclude sectoral agreements?
• Has the unions know-how re bilateral and
  tripartite social dialogue been enhanced
  (economic and sociopolitical expertise)?

6
What might be the next structural steps to take?

• Maintain trade union pluralism, but also unity
  and a strong consensus re the 10 big issues
• Develop an own country-specific model (focussing
  on the European Social Model!) that will continue
  promising future successes within the respective
  framework conditions
• Develop new forms of organisation and work, to
  reach new (types of) members
• SMEs
• women
• young people
• Highlight your own proactive capabilities in key
  thematic areas, rather than running after
  topics
• Build up forward-looking structures re
  affiliation fees (including technically!), so
  that funds flow to wherever they are most needed
• the education/training and qualification of
  members and union officials
• the ability to run campaigns and organise strikes
  at sectoral level (including a strike fund, etc.)
• the ability to be politically assertive in
  dialogue lt- campaigns, experts reports, etc.

7

• Thanks for your attention
• and
• every success in the ensuing discussion!