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During a recent meeting in Sarajevo, the UNI-Europa steering group expressed continuing support for project cooperation with the Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CTUBiH). The Sarajevo-based union represents more than 6,000 workers, all of whom have been recruited in the post-war period since 1997. Supported by its affiliates in the Nordic countries, UNI Commerce has actively accompanied the Bosnian commercial workers during the entire reconstruction and economic restructuring process.

Outside a destroyed building at the Boulevard of Mostar, Christine Asmussen (left), Anssi Vuorio, Owen Nulty and an interpreter listen to Zelja Grubisic, board member of CTUBiH. Zelja lost her own home during the fights in the town, escaping in the last minute. Today, she is responsible for activities in Mostar, and is very active in the women's network created by the UNI Commerce project. Supported by HK Norway and other Nordic commerce and finance trade unions, the project covers all population groups and both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Privatisation and economic restructuring has been accompanied by deteriorating employment and working conditions, job losses and dwindling social benefits. Salaries in commerce are very low and many workers can find only short-time and fixed-term jobs, CTUBiH president Azra Sehbajraktarevic told the steering group members.

The informal or grey commerce sector puts much competitive pressure on the employers of CTUBiH members, and has an adverse effect on job creation in retail trade. Unemployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still very high, 45 per cent of the workforce, she said.

The pride of Mostar, its old bridge, has now been restored. Destroyed by artillery during the war, the "Stari Most" will once again serve the people of this ancient town. It will also continue to symbolise the connection between north and south and east and west in the whole region of South-eastern Europe.

Much of the discussions in the steering group meeting focused on the enlargement of the European Union and the work of UNI-Europa Commerce in the new member states, as well as in countries which still remain outside the Community.

Members of the steering group also took the opportunity to visit Mostar, where they familiarised themselves with the multitude of UNI Commerce project activities in the region. They also saw the old trade union house in the town centre, which has been renovated through a UNI Commerce project, having suffered serious damage from artillery fire during the war.

More pictures from Mostar, May 2004 (click on thumbnail for 640 * 480 picture)

Old bridge	Neretva river	Neretva river
River bank on  Old Town side	Road construction  in Old Town	Mostar hillside
Destroyed apartments	Destroyed apartments