From the beginning, within the FIET delegation, it was agreed that any support programme must promote the implementation of the civilian provisions of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The activities must reach out to all parts and both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there must be a dimension in the project, which would bring together trade union leaders and other members for joint events.

HK, Norway and Handels, Sweden secured the financing of an immediate project start in Bosnia and Herzegovina whereas FIET took the operational responsibility. In January 1997, they were joined by the Nordic Committee of Commerce Trade Unions, which at a meeting in January in Sarajevo decided to finance the overall implementation costs of the project. During 1997 and 1998, other unions joined the project activities, notably German affiliates DAG and HBV, Greek affiliate OTOE, Swedish affiliate Finansförbundet and Norwegian affiliate FL. The Copenhagen local of Danish affiliate HK, most particularly its commerce sector, took responsibility for a large sub-project. The commerce employers from Norway, Denmark and Finland have also joined the project, as well as Danish and Finnish commerce universities. Substantial support has also been received from Italian commerec affiliate FILCAMs and from Austrian affiliate GPA. FIET's direct contribution, mainly through making personnel and other resources available, has been considerable.

In its project work, FIET co-operates closely with the international institutions that are present in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a particularly close and good co-operation with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, ICFTU, which also has a project office in Sarajevo.

Project Objective: Supporting the implementation of the Dayton agreement

The Dayton agreement calls for the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as one country with two entities, the Federation of BiH and the Serb Republic. The project supports the aims to create country-wide infrastructures, through encouraging trade union activities, networks and structures that comprise both entities. Through this approach, the project can contribute to the emergence of nation-wide corporate networks in commerce and finance.

Achievements:

The FIET project meeting in Sarajevo in January 1997 established the first contacts between commerce trade unions in the two entities since the war. Later in the year, a joint FIET project committee was established. In the finance sector, the first joint meeting between trade union leaders from the two entities was held at FIET’s initiative in Sarajevo in August 1997. Also here, a joint FIET project committee was established. These committees were the first joint post-war trade union structures in BiH.

During the two first project years, a first joint trade union structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been successfully established, in the commerce sector. The Co-ordinating Committee of Commercial Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was established in January 1998 by unanimous decisions of the executive committees of the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic consists of four executive committee members from each union, including their presidents. The FIET project structures provide the secretariat services and have chaired the first meetings.

In the finance sector, the Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic have in August 1998 agreed to create a similar structure. This agreement has now been submitted for the approval of their respective executive committees.

Other major activities and achievements in promoting the contacts and co-operation between the two entities and between the different population groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina include:

1. The first post-war women's seminar, with 40 participants from both entities, in Hungary in September 1997.
2. The creation of an active women's network, which spans the whole country and which has organised a number of meetings and seminars with support of the project. A women’s conference in Sarajevo in December 1998, with participants from all population groups and both entities, decided to establish a women’s association for commerce and finance workers. The association would span the whole country without being divided along entity lines.
3. The first post-war youth seminar, with 25 participants from both entities of BiH, together with 60 young people from other South East European countries, in Greece in September 1998.
4. A number of joint seminars and conferences in commerce and finance, which have been held both in the Federation and in the Serb Republic.
5.  
6. The emergence of close contacts and co-operation in daily activities between particularly the two commerce trade unions. Representatives of the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union in the Serb Republic now routinely visit their colleagues in Sarajevo, which is a major development.
7. The first contacts have been established with trade union representatives in the Eastern part of the Serb Republic.
8. A conference on vocational training in Mostar in October 1997 brought together the social partners from all parts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This contributed in an important way to the contacts and understanding between the civil societies in the predominantly Muslim and predominantly Croat parts of the Federation.
9. In July 1998, two football teams from Mostar participated in the world's largest youth football tournament, the Norway Cup, sponsored by HkiN and arranged by the FIET project structures. This has been followed up later and it is apparent that this initiative has played an important positive role in promoting a reconstitution of relations between the civil societies in East and West Mostar.
10. Through continuous support given to the women's centre Swiss House in Mostar, the project has promoted a multitude of small scale meetings and other contacts between women from both entities and all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The senior FIET project representative in Mostar is a member of the steering group of these activities.

Project Objective: Participating in economic reconstruction

The economic, social, political and psychological war recovery and reconstruction process in Bosnia and Herzegovina calls for the full participation of all parts of society. Structural reforms and privatisation are necessary parts of the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Without a social dimension, it will not be possible to engage workers and their families for this effort. Through reviving trade union activities in commerce and finance and through specialised training activities, the project enables workers to participate in the economic reconstruction efforts, where their industries will play a key role from the beginning. Helping to develop vocational education and training in commerce and finance, the project supports an economic transition where the social dimension gets sufficient and proper attention.

Achievements:

The project has directly and indirectly contributed to the economic reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

1. A large project to furnish and equip the Economics School of Sarajevo, which was destroyed during the war and reconstructed byt the Federation government with a loan from the Islamic Bank, has been prepared by the FIET project structures in co-operation with the Danish social partners in commerce. It was finally launched in August 1998. An important part of the project is to support the modernisation of the curriculum and teaching, which will be done in co-operation with a Danish university.
2. A project to renovate the Commerce School of Zenica was prepared by the FIET project structures and launched in August 1998, in co-operation with the Finnish social partners in commerce and with the Finnish Polytechnical University Arcada. Also in this project, a modernisation of the curriculum and teaching plays an important role and is the subject of co-operation with a Finnish university.
3. With support of the Norwegian social partners in commerce, a computer training class has been installed in a women's centre in Mostar, the Swiss House. The class is in daily use.
4. Co-operation between the commerce social partners in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been promoted actively, particularly within the framework of the two school projects. A conference on vocational training for the social partners in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held with support of the Danish commerce social partners, in Mostar in October 1997.
5. Together with interested trade unions abroad, a number of de-mining projects have been prepared by the FIET project structures, to be considered and, if possible, launched in the near future. These projects will be part of the trade union community services, which are both traditional in this region and particularly necessary in the present situation.

 Promoting organising and trade union development in commerce and finance

For internal stability and the success of its reconstruction efforts, Bosnia and Herzegovina, needs strong and efficient free and democratic trade unions. Such unions can reach over the divides in the BiH society, uniting workers and their families and voicing the concerns, aspirations and demands of their members. The FIET project office in Sarajevo co-operates closely with the ICFTU project office and with the Independent Trade Union Confederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Achievements:

The backbone of the project is to promote organising and trade union development in commerce and finance. This part of the project, comprising both entities, has been financed mainly by HK Norway. Handels, Sweden has been the main supporter of the work with the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union in the Serb republic. Finansförbundet, Sweden, has been backing the project activities in the finance sector, together with banking and insurance unions in Greece and Norway. The financial support for the overall project administration has come from the Committee of the Nordic Commerce Trade Unions, and from FIET through a resources input.

The Independent Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The FIET project started in 1996 with the Independent Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. An office in the trade union house in Sarajevo, the Dom Sindikata, was established and equipped in December. With project support, the union employed a secretary in January 1997.

Very soon, a more direct FIET involvement in the project activities became necessary to ensure a development of union structures and activities and to allow for the overall project objectives to be efficiently promoted. A FIET project office was established in connection with the union's headquarters. There is a close co-operation between both offices and today, the union receives various administrative and operational services from the FIET project team.

The commerce union has consolidated its structures in cantons and localities through organising and training activities.

Negotiations with employers and government authorities have been intensive during the whole period. Several grievance cases have been handled on behalf of members. A strike in Zenica early 1997 against irregularities in connection with a privatisation case led to a violent police intervention. At the union's initiative, the trade union confederation successfully intervened, with strong support from FIET, to defend the workers.

• The first joint trade union structure between the entities was established in January
• A Sarajevo district office opened in May 1998
• A position as organiser for Sarajevo was established in May 1998
• Membership has continued to grow
• Administration routines have been developed
• Trade union educators have been trained
• A union magazine has been launched and two issues published
• Numerous grievances and strikes have been handled
• Membership at the end of the year reached 6300

Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic

The FIET project provides financial support the organisational and training activities of the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic. The union's first congress in July 1997 was financed by the FIET project, after the union confirmed that it did not intend to deny being part of a joint trade union movement of Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIET representatives have participated in three executive committee meetings and several courses have been held within the project. A women's project was launched in the Serb Republic in December 1997, as part of a women's project that covers the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Commerce and Tourism Trade Union signed its first entity-wide collective agreement in August 1997. It has been involved in several grievance cases, some of which have led to strikes. Many of the grievances have concerned non-payment of wages.

• The Commerce Trade Union office opened in Laktashi in February 1997
• New membership base has been created
• Central infrastructure has been put in place
• Full-time president
• Full-time office secretary shared with FIET project organisation
• Executive committee has been established
• Congress in June 1997
• Local and cantonal structures have been created
• The first collective agreement has been concluded
• Work with privatisation process has commenced
• Training activities have started
• The union has established contacts with the colleagues in the Federation of BiH, through a joint FIET project committee

• The first joint trade union structure between the entities was established in January
• The union increased its presence and activities in the eastern parts of the Serb Republic and an entity-wide organisation network was completed
• Fourteen new regional structures were established
• Municipal trade union structures were established in Banja Luka, Brcko, Bijelinja and Doboj
• Trade union educators have been trained
• New office facilities were taken into use in Laktashi
• A meeting and contact point has been established in Mrkonic grad
• The collective agreement has been developed further
• Seven seminars and a range of shorter meetings have been held
• Numerous grievances, strikes and judicial proceedings have been handled
• At the end of 1998, union membership reached 5190

Independent Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Finance Workers Trade Union of the Serb Republic

Early 1997, FIET provided computer equipment to the Sarajevo-based Independent Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the year, with support from the Nordic bank workers' federation NBU, FIET has helped the union to cover some of its operating expenses, including its Congress in September 1997. In Sarajevo, the union has worked in close contact with the FIET project office. The union has participated in several activities in the Balkan region.

The union has been a leading force in negotiating the general collective agreement, which has brought considerable increases to minimum wages in all sectors. It plays an important role within the Independent Trade Union Confederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A finance workers' trade union was established in the Serb Republic in 1997, but it still lacks most structures. The FIET project organisation is in contact with this union, but activities have not yet been launched. Women from this union have participated in FIET's joint activities. The union has also been represented at joint meetings between the entities and at the Balkan bank workers' conference in Greece in October.

Late 1998, preparations started for launching project activities in both entities in the finance sector early 1998 and for establishing an offices in the Dom Sindikata in Sarajevo and in Banja Luka. The first joint seminar was held on 1 - 2 July 1998, with the support and participation of Finansförbundet of Sweden. This was followed up by a joint seminar arranged in co-operation between FIET and the Greek Bank Workers' Trade Union OTOE, in early September 1998.

In the insurance sector, in co-operation and with the support of Norwegian affiliate FL, a project was launched with a joint seminar in Sarajevo in August 1998.

1. Office in West Mostar and union meeting point in East Mostar were established in February 1997
2. Half time representative in Mostar from May to August 1997
3. Full time representative in Mostar from September 1997
4. Office in Zenica established in November 1997, with half time representative
5. Union meeting point in Mrkonic grad acquired and established in April 1998
6. Regional project office in Sarajevo was opened for Independent Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1998
7. Preparations for regional project activities in Tuzla have been launched
8. The first preparations for establishing a permanent presence in the Eastern part of the Serb Republic have been launched

1. Basic commerce trade union structures have been rebuilt or newly created on different levels:

• The Co-ordinating Committee of Commercial Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina was created in January 1998, emerging out of a joint FIET project committee that was established in February 1997. With its present competence, it is still the only real joint trade union structure in the country.

• The Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was established in 1995, has consolidated its structures, with support of the HkiN (Norway) project. It held its first Congress in Sarajevo in August 1997.

• The Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic was established in April 1997 and has since then consolidated its structures, with support of the Handels (Sweden) and HkiN projects. It held its first Congress in Laktashi in June 1997.

• A Co-ordinating Committee Financial Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina was agreed on in August 1998. It will be modelled on the basis of the corresponding committee for commerce.
• The Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina has received support through a project supported by Finansförbundet (Sweden). It has started the process of consolidating and strengthening its structures.

• The Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic was established in 1997. With support of the Finansförbundet project, it has started to consolidate and strengthen its structures during 1998.

2. Office facilities have been provided for co-operating unions:

• An office for the Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established in the Dom Sindikata in January 1997. This was one office room of 16 m2, which was shared with the FIET project office and where finally five people worked. New premises with three office rooms were allocated by the trade union confederation later the same year. The office was badly destroyed by artillery fire during the war and was renovated by the project. This office also houses the FIET project office.
• An office for the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic was rented in June 1997 in Laktashi. On the same premises is the office of the FIET project representative in the Serb Republic. In July 1998, preparations started for renovating a new joint office in the same building as the lease for the present office will not be continued by the proprietor into 1999.
• An office for the Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic has been established in August 1998 in the Dom Sindikata in Banja Luka. The project has supported a light renovation and the furnishing of this office.

The Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina was allocated an office in the Dom Sindikata in Sarajevo in August 1998. The union has applied for project support to renovate and equip the office.

3.    Meeting and contact points have been established for local and regional trade union structures in commerce and finance:

• In Mostar, a so-called FIET Info Café has been established in the Dom Sindikata, in the Eastern part of the town. Here, trade unionists and other workers can meet every afternoon, have a coffee for free and read newspapers and magazines from both entities and all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and from other countries of ex Yugoslavia. Union meetings are held here and the FIET project representative uses the space as her work place.
• In Zenica, a contact point with a half time employee has been established, to service the local and regional commerce and finance unions. The space also serves as a meeting room.
• In Mrkonic grad, a contact point and meeting space has been established and a part time employee will start working with the local commerce and finance unions later this year. Mrkonic grad is one of the so-called open cities of the Serb Republic, which have declared themselves prepared to receive minority returnees. One of the aims of establishing a project presence in Mrkonic grad is to engage the local unions in the integration of these returnees to society and working life.
• In the Tuzla region, discussions have been held with the local trade unions in order to find a facility, before the end of this year, which would be suitable as a contact point and meeting space.

4.    Basic personnel resources have been secured for the co-operating unions.

In agreement with the Nordic financing organisations, most resources are provided through an input by personnel employed at the FIET project structures. Another basis for this is that individual unions cannot yet make their own decisions concerning staffing levels as they have to be in conformity with others. This FIET project personnel is employed by the different individual projects, with the international project committee handling the employer functions. Some personnel, employed by the unions themselves, are financially supported by the project.

• For the Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a full time secretary was employed in January 1997. In July 1997, an organising secretary was employed. Since August 1998, the position as secretary to the union is vacant as its holder moved to other employment. This staff is supported by the HkiN project.
• For the Sarajevo Cantonal Office, an organising secretary was employed in April 1998 with support of HK Handel Copenhagen (Denmark). This position became vacant in August 1998 as its holder went back to his earlier professional football career. As of the beginning of 1999, the position will be filled through an internal staff transfer.
• For the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic, an organiser has been supported on a temporary basis since September 1997. This has been part of the Handels project.
• The Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina receives its secretarial and other services from the FIET project office in Sarajevo. The finance officer / bookkeeper is supported through the finance union projects.
• For the Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic, a part time office worker has been supported by the project as of autumn 1998.
• The FIET project structures comprise a German project director, who is the only expatriate, and five full time local employees. In the Sarajevo office, there are two deputy project directors, one for activities and one for administration. There is also a bookkeeper. In Mostar, there is a full time senior project representative. In Zenica, there is a part time project representative. In Laktashi/Banja Luka, there is a full time project representative and, since September 1998, a full time project secretary. This staff also serves the co-operating trade unions and there is no difference made concerning the union and project functions in this respect. The different regional offices are in fact joint regional offices of the commerce and finance unions. By keeping them as part of the FIET project structures, proper administration can be guaranteed and a necessary political independence on local levels secured, which is necessary in the present situation in this country.
• All FIET project office and union staff have received educators' and education administrators' training at a one-week course in Sarajevo in July 1998. This will be followed up by another one-week module later in 1998. This will make it possible to take the next step in supporting union development, which will be to launch a large programme of training members and union officials for work at all levels.
• The administrative and operative capacity of the FIET project structures have also been improved by specialised training of key people abroad. Two staff members from the Sarajevo project office received a two-week computer training in Copenhagen, Denmark in July 1998.

5.    Membership levels have increased and a proper membership administration has been established. In the Commercial Workers Trade Union of BiH, membership was brought down to zero in June 1997 when a computerised membership registry was established. The number of union members has since then increased to 6,000 in August 1998, as a result of active organising work. A similar development has taken place in the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic.

6.    Organising activities have been launched in all co-operating unions and particularly in the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here, organising has been the main priority for the union during 1997 and 1998, with contacts established between the union and enterprises and workplaces all around the Federation. A solid basis for union work has thus been created.

7.    A union magazine - Suglas - has been launched by the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The magazine, two issues of which have been published until now, is already generally acknowledged to be the leading trade union journal in the country. It is edited by the FIET project office in Sarajevo, in co-operation with the union's office. The magazine is distributed to all members of the union. The other co-operating unions have taken initiatives to create corresponding magazines or newsletters and asked the FIET project office for help.

8.    Different publicity and information materials have been produced for the use of the unions. This includes both printed materials and video films.

9.    The Commercial Workers Trade Union has been the only one that has succeeded in establishing a local structure in the predominantly Croat Western Herzegovina. This is a main step towards securing trade union rights for the workers in this part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

10.    An active women's network has been created, uniting women from the commerce and finance unions in both entities and all population groups. Through this, women have started to play a bigger role in trade union work.

11.    FIET was instrumental in bringing about a Norwegian  trade union confederation project to renovate the trade union house, Dom Sindikata, in Sarajevo.

11.    A youth committee has been established in the Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In September 1998, young unionists from both entities participated in a OTOE/FIET youth conference in Greece, together with colleagues from the other countries of ez-Yugoslavia and other parts of South Eastern Europe. This will be followed up by creating youth networks.

12.    Co-operation has started between the local social partners, particularly on vocational training.

FIET is now the leading international and European trade union project organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one of the most active non-governmental supporters of the implementation of the civilian provisions of the Dayton agreement

3. The project Structure

The project comprises separate but inter-linked modules, tied together by a joint structure. This allows a broad participation by social partners and other institutions. A modular structure enables the project to respond to changing needs and possibilities and to political and social developments in the project country.

Every project module is independent in the respect that FIET and its project structure plays only a consultative and assisting role whereas the formal responsibilities are between the individual donor and the cooperating union(s) or institution(s). The necessary co-ordination between the modules is handled by the FIET project structures, in close contact with and following the instructions of the international project committee.

In accordance with the wishes of the donors and taking into account the local situation, the project funds are normally managed by the FIET project structures directly, acting as agents for the donors.

FIET is officially registered as a humanitarian organisation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At an official inspection of the project office in Sarajevo by the Federation authorities in August 1998, the FIET project was cited for its full compliance with the administrative and taxation rules of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which according to the authorities is exceptional among the international organisations in the country. In his comments, the government inspector also noted the exceptionally positive work atmosphere between and among the foreign and local project collaborators.

In the Serb Republic, the registration process of the FIET project is still ongoing. Also here, FIET has received positive comments as being the only international trade union structure that has actively from the beginning supported the moderate trade union movement, which today is playing a key role in opening up the entity to the outside world and bringing about the post-war reconciliation with the Federation.

4. Major activities in 1997 and 1998

1. First FIET meeting for commerce trade unions from ex-Yugoslavia, in January 1997

Commerce trade union leaders from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation) and Macedonia mate for their first meeting after the dissolution of Yugoslavia at a FIET Conference in Zagreb, Croatia in January 1997. At this meeting, which was financed by HkiN, a new co-operation was launched between these organisations.

2. First FIET meeting for Finance trade unions from ex-Yugoslavia, in February 1997

A similar meeting for finance trade union leaders was held in Zagreb in February 1997.

3. FIET's Women's Conference for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in September 1997

A FIET women’s conference for Bosnia and Herzegovina was arranged in September 1997, for security reasons in Hungary, supported by German affiliates DAG and HBV and Hungarian affiliate KASz. As a result, a women’s network is now emerging between trade unionists from different population groups and entities. Two follow up seminars were held in December 1997, in Zenica and in Laktashi. The women’s activities have comprised both commerce and finance workers and have been handled by the FIET project organisation. Resource persons from DAG, HBV, KASz and FIET participated in this conference.

4. Tripartite conference on vocational training, October 1997

A tripartite conference on vocational training was held in Mostar in October 1997, with employers' and workers' representatives and government officials from different parts of the Federation. The conference was connected to the preparations of the Sarajevo Economics School project. Resource persons from HK and HSO Denmark participated, as well as FIET representatives.

5. Tripartite seminar on vocational training, May 1998

In May 1998, a tripartite seminar on vocational training was held in Zenica, with employers' and workers' representatives and government officials from the Canton. The conference was connected to the preparations of the Zenica Commerce School project. Resource persons from LA and the Arcada Polytechnical University, Finland participated, as well as FIET representatives.

6. Joint Round Table seminar on privatisation in commerce, June 1998

In June 1998, a joint seminar on the trade union approach to privatisation in commerce was held by the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commerce Trade Union of the Serb Republic. The seminar started in Laktashi and moved to Sarajevo the following day. This was the first joint trade union event to be held in two parts, thus taking place in both entities. Resource persons from HkiN, OTOE and FIET participated in the seminar.

7. Joint seminar on the effects of structural change in banking, July 1998

In July 1998, a joint seminar on the effects of workers and their trade unions of structural change in the banking industry was held in Sarajevo. Representatives of Finansförbundet, Sweden participated in this meeting as resource persons.

8. Educators' and education administrators' training course for project personnel, July 1998

In July 1998, an educators' and education administrators' training course was given to all FIET project personnel and union staff from both entities. The course in Sarajevo was conducted by a resource person from Handels, Sweden.

9. Joint seminar on European integration and the banking industry in BiH, August 1998

In August 1998, a joint seminar on European integration and the banking industry in BiH was held in Sarajevo. Representatives of OTOE, Greece and of FIET participated in this meeting as resource persons. At this seminar, a structured co-operation between the Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic was launched.

10. Joint seminar on trade union work in the insurance sector, September 1998

In early September 1998, a joint seminar on was held in Sarajevo. Representatives of FL, Norway and of FIET participated in this meeting as resource persons. This seminar launched a more systematic trade union work in the insurance sector by the Finance Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic.

11. OTOE/FIET youth seminar, in September 1998

A large youth seminar was arranged jointly by OTOE, Greece and the FIET project structures in BiH in September 1998 in Thessaloniki. A major part of the participants came from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other countries of ex-Yugoslavia. The participation of the young trade unionists from Bosnia and Herzegovina was made possible by the FIET project, which took care of the travel costs. The seminar was conducted by the FIET project director, assisted by staff from the Sarajevo and Laktashi offices. Members of the Euro-FIET Youth Steering Committee and a resource person from HkiN also participated. For the first time after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, trade unionists from Serbia were present at such an event.

12.    Joint conference and workshop for women trade unionists, December 1998

A conference and workshop for women trade unionists in commerce and finance, from all parts and both entities of the country, was held in Sarajevo in December 1998. The conference discussed women’s career possibilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as FIET’s project activities for women trade unionists. The participants decided to establish a women’s association for the commerce and finance sectors, which would span the whole country without being divided along entity lines.

The presidents of the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commerce and Finance Trade Union of the Serb Republic undertook their first joint mission abroad in April 1997, when they visited Geneva, Hamburg, Oslo and Stockholm. In Geneva, they met FIEt representatives for discussions. In Hamburg they participated in a Euro-FIET Commerce conference on developments in European retail and wholesale trade. In Norway and Sweden, they met with decision makers and staff of HkiN and Handels. During the mission, several internal discussions were also held concerning future co-operation between the entities and within the project. The presidents were accompanied on the mission by Jan Furstenborg of FIET, vice president of the project committee, and Alex Rüdig, project director.

Between October 1996 and January 1997, a number of project meetings were held with the co-operating trade unions, to launch activities. The process led to the emergence of regular contacts on a more informal basis between all those involved.

Contact meeting, Sarajevo, October 1996

In connection with a ETUC project conference in Sarajevo, the first meetings were held between FIET and the commerce and finance workers' unions. The FIET delegation consisted of Sture Arntzen, Kenth Pettersson and Jan Furstenborg. At these meetings, the project was launched.

Sarajevo in January 1997 (commerce)

A large delegation representing FIET and the Nordic commerce and finance trade unions visited Sarajevo in January 1997. During their visit, the first post-war meeting between commerce trade union leaders from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Serb Republic was held. The first of its kind, bringing representatives of the civic communities together in Sarajevo, the meeting attracted much publicity. It was agreed that a joint project be launched and that a second project meeting be held in the near future in the Serb Republic.

The FIET and Nordic representatives also met with political and community leaders and held extensive consultations with the trade union confederation.

During the January mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Nordic Committee of Commerce Trade Unions made a major commitment to finance the basic expenses of the FIET project organisation. After the Sarajevo meetings, the FIET representatives proceeded to Mostar where they established project offices in both parts of this divided town.

Laktashi in February 1997 (commerce)

The second joint project meeting for commerce unions was held in Laktashi in the Serb Republic, in the presence of FIET representatives. The Office of the High Representative OHR participated in the meeting and extended important logistics support. At this meeting, the joint project was confirmed and a joint project committee was established between the entities. This was the first joint structure between trade unions in the two entities.

After the Laktashi meeting, the delegations from FIET and Sarajevo met with trade union and community leaders in Mrkonic grad in the Serb Republic.

Geneva in April 1997 (commerce)

In connection with a visit to Geneva in April, a meeting of the joint commerce project committee was held at FIET headquarters. At this meeting, the project committee discussed the future structures of the commercial workers trade union in Bosnia and Herzegovina and agreed on a joint presentation of the project activities.

Sarajevo in August 1997 (commerce and finance)

At the Sarajevo meeting, the joint project committee made an assessment of developments so far and discussed various joint activities, including the women's conference in Hungary in September.

In the finance sector, trade union leaders from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Serb Republic met for the first time, in the presence of FIET representatives. They agreed on a joint project on the same basis as in commerce and on establishing a joint project committee. In connection with the meeting of the committee, a high level conference on privatisation was held, with the participation of the vice governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a delegation of the Nordic Bank Workers' Federation NBU.

Geneva in September 1997 (commerce)

The presidents of the Independent Commerce Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic, Hasan Kovac and Bogdan Davidovic, participated in the Euro-FIET Commerce Trade Section Committee meeting in Geneva in September 1997. In connection with this meeting, a meeting of the joint commerce project committee was held.

Mostar and Laktashi in January 1998

In January 1998, the international project committee held a joint meeting with the executive committee of the Commercial Workers' Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At this meeting, where also a delegation from HkiN participated, project activities were discussed. The commerce union's executive committee also accepted a proposal to transform the joint project committee into a Co-ordinating Committee of Commercial Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with far wider responsibilities. After this meeting, Jan Furstenborg and Alex Rüdig went to Laktashi where they met with the executive committee of the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic, which also adopted the proposal for a Co-ordinating Committee.

Regular contacts between the entities during1998

In 1998, the contacts between the entities became more regular and informal, both in the commerce and the finance sector. When travelling between Sarajevo and Banja Luka/Laktashi was earlier complicated and required several vehicle changes on the way, it now became easier, with the result that the union leaders and other representatives now meet each other frequently. The FIET offices in different parts of the country also hold regular meetings and staff from Mostar, Zenica, Banja Luka and Laktashi take part also in the work of the Sarajevo office when bigger events take place or when delegations from donor unions visit. Frequently, interpreters from one entity work at FIET events in the other entity.

International project committee, Oslo in June 1997

The first international project committee meeting was held in Oslo on 3 June 1997. The composition of the committee was confirmed as follows:

• Sture Arntzen, president of HK Norway, president of the project committee
• Jan Furstenborg, head of department, FIET Commerce and FIET Central and Eastern Europe, vice president of the project committee
• Sören B. Henriksen, managing director, Danish Commerce and Service, Denmark
• Jörgen Hoppe, president of HK Handel, Denmark
• Hans Kristiansen, director, Norwegian Commerce and Service Employers, Norway
• Kenth Pettersson, president of Handelsanställdas Förbund, Sweden
• Alex Rüdig, project director, Germany, secretary of the project committee

It was agreed that the committee shall be complemented as needed with members representing major participants in the project. It was further decided that between meetings of the international project committee, the president and vice president can make decisions on its behalf, after consulting with the other members.

Later during the year, the president of the project committee invited Hubert Gartz of DAG and Claudio Treves of FILCAMS as well as a representative of the Nordic finance unions as new members. This was confirmed by the project committee at its meeting in Mostar in January 1998.

Alex Rüdig was appointed as project director for Bosnia and Herzegovina, stationed in Sarajevo, for the period 1.7.1997 to 31.1.1998. Mersiha Besirovic was appointed as project secretary.

The international project committee agreed on the following definition of responsibilities:

"The role of the project committee is to co-ordinate the different modules and elements which form the project and to serve the participating organisations. Each individual organisation that participates in the project has full responsibility, including the responsibility for financial administration, accounting and reporting, for its own module or project element. The role of FIET is consultative and FIET will not bear any other responsibility than that which has specifically been accepted by FIET. As part of its consultative role, FIET will supervise the overall implementation of the project and when necessary make recommendations to the international project committee and participating unions."

International project committee, Mostar in January1998

At its meeting in Mostar in January 1998, the international project committee reviewed the activities that had taken place, expressing its satisfaction with the results and the functioning of the FIET project structures. The committee also reviewed the regional office and personnel situation and agreed on the basis for remuneration of project employees. The committee also took note of a preliminary report on project finances and noted that a finance officer from HkiN had checked the accounts of the Sarajevo office and the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina late 1997. The plans for further project activities were also discussed and approved. In conjunction with the meeting, the committee held talks with the leadership of the Commercial Workers Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and welcomed the proposal to establish a Co-ordinating Committee of Commercial Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

International project committee, Dombås in August 1998

At its meeting in Dombås, Norway in August 1998, the project committee received and approved the activities report and the financial reports for 1997. It was decided that the project finances for the overall project administration and implementation be audited by the auditors of the Committee of Nordic Commerce and Office Trade Unions. The committee agreed to ask Alex Rüdig to continue as project director, working partly out of Bonn, Germany and partly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was agreed to invite Magnus Neuberg of Finansförbundet, Sweden to be member of the project committee.

8. Other activities

A number of projects have been initiated. Some have been completed already, others are on their way and some are still in their preparatory stages.

Project with the Economics School of Sarajevo

The large project to furnish and equip the Economics School of Sarajevo and to adapt its curriculum to the demands of a modern commerce sector in the new market economy was initiated and prepared by the FIET project structures and the Danish social partners in co-operation with the school itself, the government authorities, the trade union movement and the employers. The Danish social partners have now launched the project, which is supported by the Danish government.

Projects with Swiss House in Mostar

Several projects for working and unemployed women in the Mostar region have been supported by the FIET project, with financing from HK Norway, supported by the Norwegian commerce employers. A women’s seminar with participation from different population groups was held in June 1997. Fifteen computers with the necessary software were provided in October to the Swiss House, a women’s centre in Mostar, for employment promoting training classes. A FIET project representative has been employed in Mostar since May 1997, concentrating primarily on women’s activities.

Project with Hepok in Herzegovina

A project to support the wine industry in Herzegovina in marketing its wines has been worked on for most of the year, together with HK Norway. Several meetings have been held. It has become apparent that the wine co-operative Hepok will need support with developing its production process before wine of a sufficiently good quality for European markets can be produced. Due to the apparent lack of preparedness of the company's management to pursue the project further, it has now been terminated.

Project with the Commercial School of Zenica

A project to support the renovation and development of the commerce school of Zenica was prepared by the FIET project structures for the social partners in commerce in Finland. After two preparatory missions from Finland, the project was launched in August 1998 when the first stage of a comprehensive renovation was started. In parallell with this, the Finnish polytechnical university Arcada has initiated a regular contact with the school in Zenica, using the Internet for developing the schools training programmes.

Co-operation with Norsk Folkehjelp in Sarajevo and Mostar

With support from the FIET project structures, HK Norway has opened up a positive co-operation with Norwegian Peoples Aid and their Mostar and Sarajevo offices.

Norway Cup

In July 1998, thirty young football players from two football clubs in Mostar participated in the world's biggest football competition, the Norway Cup. Invited by HkiN and supported by some of its partners, the young footballers spent two weeks training and playing. The HkiN invitation has attracted much positive attention in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is frequently mentioned as one of the best and most interesting initiatives to promote a reconciliation and return to normalcy in Mostar. The young footballers from East and West Mostar were among a handful of teams that received a complimentary mention from the board of the Norway Cup, for their good and positive behaviour.

1. October 1996, Sarajevo

2. January 1997, Sarajevo, Mostar

3. February 1997, Sarajevo, Laktashi, Mrkonic grad, Bihac

4. March 1997, Sarajevo

5. July 1997, Sarajevo, Laktashi

6. August 1997, Sarajevo, Mostar

7. October 1997, Sarajevo, Mostar

8. November 1997, Sarajevo

9. January 1998, Sarajevo, Mostar, Zenica, Banja Luka, Laktashi

10. May 1998, Sarajevo, Laktashi, Zenica, Mostar

11.    August and September 1998, Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar

12.    October 1998, Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar

October 1996

Participation in meetings between ETUC delegation and BiH trade union confederation

Meetings with politicians and media people

First meetings with commerce and finance unions, launching projects

January 1997

Sarajevo and Mostar

First joint project meeting between entities

Meetings with unions and BiH confederation

Broad contacts with Bosnian society

Massive publicity in Bosnian media

FIET mission to Mostar, offices established

Visit of Nordic commerce and finance delegation

Visit of HkiN delegation

February 1997

Sarajevo, Laktashi, Mrkonic grad, Bihac

Second joint project meeting between entities

Discussions with unions and SR confederation

Meeting with local union and civic leaders in Mrkonic grad

FIET mission to Bihac, meetings with local union leaders and workers

Visit of Handels, Sweden delegation

Sarajevo

Euro-FIET Commerce Steering Committee meeting

Meetings with unions and BiH confederation

Meetings with minister of trade and minister of education of BiH Federation, initiation of vocational training project

Meetings with political and business leaders

Sarajevo, Laktashi

Establishing new FIET project offices in Sarajevo

Meetings with minister of education of BiH Federation, launching of project with Economics School of Sarajevo

FIET mission to Laktashi, meeting with executive of commerce union, establishing new FIET project offices, meeting with OHR

Much publicity in BiH Federation and SR media

Mostar, Sarajevo

Project discussions and initiation of new projects in Mostar

Review of project activities with FIET project office and unions, adjustments

Congress of BiH Commerce union, Sarajevo

First joint project meeting for finance sector

Preparation for joint women’s seminar in Hungary

Visit of HkiN delegation

September 1997

Hungary

Joint women’s seminar

Mostar, Sarajevo

Participation in vocational training conference in Mostar

Discussions with commerce union about regional project in Sarajevo (HK Handel Copenhagen)

Participation in BiH trade union confederation Congress (Geoff Walker)

Consultations with FIET project office and BiH commerce and finance unions about organising and training activities

Visit of HK Denmark delegation

November 1997

Sarajevo

Establishment of new office for BiH commerce union

Establishment of new FIET project office in Sarajevo

January 1998

Sarajevo, Mostar, Zenica, Banja Luka, Laktashi

International project committee meeting, Mostar

BiH Commerce Union executive committee meeting, Mostar

SR Commerce and Tourism Union executive committee meeting in Laktashi

Consultations and meetings in Zenica, Banja Luka

Visit of HkiN delegation

Sarajevo, Laktashi, Zenica, Mostar

Meetings with project staff and co-operating unions

Meetings with the trade union confederation of BiH

Joint Round Table on Privatisation in Commerce

Tripartite seminar on vocational training in commerce, Zenica

Visit of OTOE, Greece delegation

Visit of FIET General Secretary to Sarajevo and Mostar

Visit of LA, Finland delegation

August and September 1998

Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar

Meetings with project staff and co-operating unions

Meetings with the trade union confederation of BiH

Joint finance sector conference on European integration

Joint seminar for insurance workers

Finnish commerce social partners' high level delegation

Consultations about Sarajevo economics school project

Meetings with civic leaders in Mostar

Meeting with president of Nezavisnost of Serbia

Visit of OTOE, Greece delegation

Visit of FL, Norway delegation

Visit of Finnish social partners in commerce delegation

October 1998

Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar

Visit of the national council of HK Norway

Meetings with the trade union confederation of BiH

Meeting with the executive committee of the commerce trade union of BiH

Visit to the commerce school of Zenica

Meetings and ceremonies with the two Mostar football clubs

Visit to Swiss House, Mostar

10. Information and publicity

The FIET project has received much publicity in the media of both the BiH Federation and the Serb Republic. Media have covered all project meetings. Press conferences, which have been held in connection with most visits to the country, have been well attended. Two major television news shows have focused on the project, with long reports and interviews. Both interviews have been broadcast also on the weekly Bosnian satellite summaries. Project activities and the work of the co-operating trade unions have regularly been dealt with in the main television and radio news journals.

The magazine of the Commercial Workers' Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Suglas, is an important information channel to the union's members and to the trade union community also about FIET project activities.

The project has been noted visibly also by television and newspapers in the Nordic countries as well as in Italy, the Netherlands and Germany.

FIET has established a large BiH project Internet site, which is regularly being updated at http://www.fiet.org/commerce/bih2.htm

A computer presentation of the project has been made available on a widely distributed FIET cd-rom in different languages. This presentation is being regularly updated.

A video presentation of the project was produced early 1998. It was shown to the Euro-FIET Commerce Conference and to the Euro-FIET Conference, in Cardiff in March - April 1998 and has been widely distributed among FIET affiliates.

At the Euro-FIET Conference in Cardiff, a direct satellite television link was opened between the Conference and the BiH Television Centre in Sarajevo. On this connection, a live discussion about the project was held between the Conference participants and a group of trade unionists from the commerce and finance trade unions, representing both entities. This attracted much positive attention to the project among FIET's affiliates and led to a follow up with a number of unions concerning their future participation.

The project has been presented at numerous trade union meetings, particularly in the Nordic countries.

11. FIET decisions and presentation of the project at FIET meetings

FIET decisions in support of the project have been made at the following meetings:

1. FIET Management committee, December 1996

The management committee adopted the recommendations made by the FIET mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 1996. It also decided that FIET would manage the project on behalf of the participating unions and that a special project committee should be established under the chairmanship of Sture Arntzen, president of HK Norway and member of the FIET World Executive Committee.

2. FIET World Executive Committee, May 1997

The FIET World Executive Committee, which met in Cape Town, South Africa in May 1997, saw a multimedia presentation of the FIET trade union solidarity project in Bosnia and Herzegovina and confirmed the active participation and support of FIET. It also appealed to FIET's affiliates to support the project.

3. Euro-FIET Executive Committee, September 1997

The Euro-FIET Executive Committee, at its meeting in Luxembourg in September 1997, saw an updated multimedia presentation and expressed its strong support for the project.

4. Euro-FIET Commerce Steering Committee, April 1997

The Euro-FIET Commerce steering committee met in Sarajevo in April 1997 and familiarised itself with the project on site. At the subsequent steering committee meetings, note has been taken of the progress made in project activities with the commerce unions.

5. Euro-FIET Commerce Trade Section Committee, September 1997

The presidents of the Commercial Workers' Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commerce and Tourism Trade Union of the Serb Republic, Hasan Kovac and Bogdan Davidovic, participated in the meeting of the Euro-FIET Commerce Trade Section Committee in Geneva in September 1997 and reported on the situation of their country and on the FIET project activities. This was warmly received by the meeting, which expressed its strong support for the continuation of the project.

6. Euro-FIET Commerce Conference 1997

The Euro-FIET Commerce Conference in Cardiff, United Kingdom saw a video film produced by the project, depicting the experiences of a young girl in Sarajevo, Nerma Arnautovic, during the siege and telling about the role of the FIET project in the reconstruction efforts. The meeting was addressed on behalf of the delegation from BiH by the two commerce union presidents Hasan Kovac and Bogdan Davidovic and by Alex Rüdig, project director. The Conference confirmed the continued support of Euro-FIET Commerce for the commercial workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the project activities.

7. Euro-FIET Conference, September 1997

The almost one thousand delegates to the Euro-FIET Conference in Cardiff in April 1998 saw the video film with Nerma and discussed over a live satellite link with a group of trade unionists, who had gathered in the television centre in Sarajevo. The Conference was addressed by Suleiman Hrle, president of the Independent Trade Union Confederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bogdan Davidovic, representing the Co-ordinating Committee of Commercial Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Introducing a panel discussion about Euro-FIET's activities in Central and Eastern Europe, the president of the international project committee Sture Arntzen presented the project activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Conference adopted unanimously a document titled 'Only One Europe', which expressed strong support for FIET's project activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

HK Norway

HKiN has made the clearly biggest commitment towards the financing and the implementation of the project. A large number of project activities have been conducted with the support of HKiN. From 1998, partial financing from the Norwegian development authorities has been available.

Nordic commerce unions

In 1997, the Nordic commerce trade unions allocated funds to cover the general expenses for FIET’s project implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A decision to continue this support was made in June 1998.

Handels, Sweden

Handels has covered the expenses for project activities with the commerce and tourism trade union in the Serb Republic. From 1998, the project has received support also from the LO-TCO trade union development assistance council.

HK Handel and DH&S, Denmark

HK Handel and DH&S have launched a FIET-initiated project to furnish and equip the Economics School of Sarajevo and undertaken a total of five missions in preparation of the project. In August 1998, a decision was made by the Danish government to allocate financial support for this project. In addition, the Danish social partners have financed a tripartite conference on vocational training, arranged by FIET in Mostar in October 1997. The Danish social partners co-operate with the Tietgen University in Denmark.

DAG and HBV, Germany

DAG and HBV have financed the first joint women's conference for the commerce and finance unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held in Hungary in September with the support of Hungarian FIET-affiliate KASz. There were over forty participants at this conference, coming from both entities and all population groups.

FILCAMS, Italy

FILCAMS has provided the FIET project organisation with a car.

GPA, Austria

GPA has provided the different union and project offices with photocopiers, telefax machines and other equipment. The union has also actively supported the humanitarian work of the FIET Sarajevo Project Office.

OTOE, Greece

FIET's Greek finance sector affiliate OTOE made possible the participation of a finance worker's delegation representing both entities in a bank workers' conference for the Balkan countries, in Thessaloniki in September 1997. OTOE has also financed a conference on European integration, in Sarajevo in September 1998. In September 1998 in Thessaloniki, OTOE hosted a Conference for 80 young people from all over the region, including 25 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

LA, KTL and the Arcada Polytechnical University, Finland

The Finnish social partners in commerce, LA and KTL, and Arcada, have launched a project in Zenica, to help the Commerce school with a renovation of its premises and with a modernisation of its work.

The Swedish finance workers' union

The Swedish finance workers' union Finansförbundet has financed the first joint meeting and privatisation conference for finance workers from both entities, in Sarajevo in August 1998. The union has also, with the support of the LO-TCO Council, launched a finance sector project in 1998.

FL Norway

The Norwegian insurance workers’ union FL has allocated important amounts for 1998 and 1999 for launching trade union activities in the insurance sector in both entities.

FIET

FIET has extended considerable support to the project, particularly through personnel resources and office services, but also through financial contributions.

Others

The following other unions and organisations have contributed during 1997 to the FIET solidarity fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina or to the project in other ways:

• The Norwegian commerce and service employers' association
• Danish Commerce and Services (employers' association)
• Teknisk Landsförbund, Denmark
• Tjänstemannaförbundet HTF, Sweden
• Pankkitoimihenkilöliitto, Finland