FIET general secretary visits Bosnia and Herzegovina

FIET Commerce
FIET Central and Eastern Europe

24 June, 1998

The FIET solidarity project
in Bosnia and Herzegovina

FIET general secretary says that unions must actively support BiH reconstruction

Philip Jennings, the general secretary of FIET, called for an active trade union involvement in the Bosnian peace process. There must be a social dimension in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, he said in an interview for the independent Sarajevo television station TV 99. In discussions with the president of the Independent Trade Union Confederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Suleiman Hrle, Jennings made an initiative for convening a high level international trade union conference in Sarajevo on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement later this year.

During his three day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the FIET general secretary held talks with trade union leaders from both entities. The discussions with commerce and finance union presidents Hasan Kovac, Bogdan Davidovic and Fuad Sahacic focused on FIET's comprehensive project activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Philip Jennings expressed FIET's continued commitment to these activities and the support for all colleagues who are engaged in the work of the affiliated trade unions and the project offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, Laktashi, Zenica and other locations.

Zelja Grubecic, senior project representative in Mostar, met with Philip Jennings at the FIET café in the trade union house.

In Mostar, Philip Jennings visited the FIET café and meeting point in the trade union house and the office of FIET's Mostar representative Zelja Grubecic. He also discussed with the activists at the Swiss House, which is an activity centre that brings together women from all parts and both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together with the commercial workers' union HK of Norway and its social partners, FIET has supported the Swiss House by equipping a computer class where women workers, but also men, can improve their skills and employment prospects.

The Swiss House, which has been constructed mainly with the support of the assistance organisation of the Swiss labour movement Schweizerische Arbeiter- und Arbeterinnenhilfswerke SAH plays a key role in the reconciliation process of the whole country. The meetings, courses and other activities at Swiss House have allowed Moslem, Serb and Croat women from all over the country to create networks, to re-establish old contacts and to form new friendships. In Mostar itself, Swiss House and the work of its director Hanni Rücker and her colleagues has a crucially important stabilising influence and sends a signal of hope to all those who want to work for reconciliation and co-operation. It is therefore necessary to secure the continued work of Swiss House and FIET will do its best to contribute towards this aim.

Alex Rüdig and Philip Jennings at the Tito Bridge in Mostar

During the short visit to Mostar, Philip Jennings was able to see how badly the town was damaged during the war and how it is now being reconstructed. Alex Rüdig, FIET's project director, was the best possible guide, having worked for two years during the war in the European Union Administration in Mostar. .

In the trade union house, Philip Jennings was shown the damage caused to the building by several grenade hits. Two years ago, the European trade union movement initiated a project to make repairs possible, but as yet nothing has happened. FIET has contacted some of the other international and European trade union organisations to underline the importance that these initiatives be followed up in the near future.

During his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Philip Jennings was accompanied by Jan Furstenborg, head of department, FIET Commerce and FIET Central and Eastern Europe and Alex Rüdig, FIET project director.

At several meetings, the executive committees of FIET and Euro-FIET have expressed their strong and active support for the project activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in other parts of former Yugoslavia and South-eastern Europe. More and more FIET affiliates are now actively joining the project work with a substantial participation. Among the new partners are Norway's insurance workers union FL and the Greek bank workers' union OTOE.