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Bosnian
trade union Sarajevo is not the easiest place in the world for a commerce trade union. War recovery continues, the transition of the economic system is still on its way and high unemployment rates are part of everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Sarajevo-based commerce trade union continues its fight for survival and development. Hundreds of members have been trained in English and computer skills. For many, this has been a necessity for keeping their jobs. Others have improved their employment chances.
The large department store in the centre of the Bosnian capital is now empty and dark. It is waiting for a private investor, probably a foreign enterprise. One of the interested buyers is Italy's Benetton, which has signaled that workers who have been trained by the union could be able to keep their jobs. Last week, privatisation of the Sarajka store was in the news once again. The government had now set the price. The very same day, union organisers met with the workers to discuss how their jobs could be saved. Out of work and without wages for more than a year, they now set their hopes on a new owner. The union wants the government to set this as a condition for privatisation. In September, the commerce trade union will meet for its second congress, in Sarajevo. Hasan Kovac, the union's president, has announced that he will retire. The only announced candidate to succeed him is Azra Sehbajraktarevic, a young woman lawyer and president of the Sarajevo cantonal organisation of the commerce union. Also many new board members are expected to be elected. Since five years, Uni Commerce and its predecessor FIET Commerce has been running a large education and union building project in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main supporters have been Nordic and some other European commerce trade union and particularly HK Norway. |
