Policy paper for Stockholm sets an active role for UNI-Europa Commerce on core labour relations

Policy proposal sets an active role for UNI-Europa Commerce on core labour relations

"UNI-Europa Commerce has a higher profile than ever before. This is due to a broad engagement in European matters - through the active social dialogue for commerce, through intensive contacts with European authorities, employers and other stakeholders in commerce, and through continuous dialogue and negotiations with leading retailers and wholesalers."

Usdaw's Bill Connor (left) and John Hannett (right) were the hosts of the conclusions meeting in Manchester. Both they and Alex Rüdig of UNI-Europa Commerce had a good reason to be pleased with the positive atmosphere and efficient working, which lead to an unanimous proposal for next week's Stockholm Conference. Just a week earlier, the large British affiliate held its own Congress in Blackpool, a very successful one.

The combined discussion and conclusions document proposed for next week's UNI-Europa Commerce Conference has now been put forward in its final form. Yesterday, the previewed conference conclusions committee as nominated by the regions met for an informal discussion in Manchester, the United Kingdom.

The meeting at USDAW headquarters was chaired by Sir Bill Connor, the union's general secretary, who is proposed to lead the work of the conclusions committee in Stockholm. Other participants came from USDAW, ver.di in Germany, CFDT Services in France, FILCAMs in Italy and HK Handel in Denmark.

"Strong identity and high profile"

At the Manchester meeting, the proposed committee unanimously agreed on a text, which foresees a strong future role for UNI-Europa Commerce:

"A strong identity and high profile is indeed necessary to allow UNI-Europa Commerce to defend and promote the rights and interests of Europe’s commercial workers, in an integrating political, economic and social environment, both on regional and global levels. UNI-Europa Commerce must be prepared to respond to increasing challenges brought by continuing European integration as well as by the globalisation process, including in the area of collective bargaining and related functions."

"The aim is to develop UNI-Europa Commerce into a genuine and efficient operational European trade union structure, which can both support and complement collective bargaining and other core activities of its affiliates", the document states.

For UNI-Europa Commerce there is only one Europe, the Conference document says, supporting the enlargement process:

"Commerce will be an important testing ground for implementing a European social model", the document states. "Changes in the competition environment, influenced by large differences in wages and social standards, will put pressure on collective agreement and labour legislation standards already achieved by commerce trade unions, including on shop opening hours. Together with its affiliates, UNI-Europa Commerce will continue to work for an upward harmonisation of conditions as a means to tackle this challenge."

No to the Wal-Mart concept

The role of multinationals in growing in world and European commerce, and will surely be a major discussion point at next week's gathering:

"Europe’s commercial workers say no to the labour relations concept that Wal-Mart represents. It is a danger for labour standards in commerce and for the future of the industry itself."

"The challenge of Wal-Mart to commercial workers worldwide underlines the need for a continued close global cooperation between UNI Commerce and its affiliates, to secure trade union and collective bargaining rights and to deal with the negative overall effects of the policies and action of Wal-Mart, and any other company that applies the same kind of approach."

Defending and promoting employment will remain a top priority for Europe's commerce trade unions. The role of commerce as an employer must be recognised by the European Union, the Stockholm paper says:

"In allocating resources to support and promote secure and high quality employment, adequate consideration must be given to the large numbers of workers employed in commerce as well as to its continuing employment-generating potential. Commerce trade unions must be fully involved in the planning and implementation of all European and national programmes or measures for the promotion of employment."

Enormous potential for growth

Defending workers' rights, and organising the workers into trade unions, will remain core concerns for UNI-Europa Commerce and all affiliates. This will build on good experiences from comprehensive UNI Commerce organising and development campaigns in many countries, both in Europe and outside:

"There is an enormous growth potential for Europe’s commercial workers’ trade unions. Many UNI-Europa Commerce affiliates have shown that it is indeed possible to add to their membership through strong and focused organising efforts", the policy paper says and calls for a continued broad support for UNI Commerce campaigns.

The document proposes that UNI-Europa Commerce reiterate its strong commitment to the active European social dialogue for commerce. This dialogue with EuroCommerce should be expanded also to new areas, which are close to core employment conditions.

The UNI-Europa Commerce Conference meets in Stockholm on 16 to 18 May. More than 200 trade union leaders from all over Europe will determine the policies and objectives of the largest UNI-Europa sector for the next four-year period. The final policy conclusions will be adopted by the conference on its third day.