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As Metro continues to grow in Poland, Uni Commerce helps workers join trade union Already 17,500 workers are employed by Metro in Poland. The German multinational has already created a 62 unit network, with a turnover this year of 2.5 Billion USD. Next year, thirty additional markets will be opened. Uni Commerce is helping Poland's Solidarnosc to build up a trade union presence. In Poland, Metro operates cash and carry wholesale hypermarkets, Real superstores, Praktiker DIY markets and Media Markt computer and electronics stores. The country is Metro's first priority, outside the German home market. In a unique project, Uni Commerce supports Poland's Solidarnosc in a campaign to organise the Metro workers. With the help of German affiliates DAG and HBV, over ten union locals have been established during the last year, with a total membership of over 2,000. Since September, a project-supported full time trade union organiser co-ordinates this work. The project approach build on an open dialogue with the Metro AG management in Germany, who have declared that the workers can freely exercise their right to join the trade union of their choice. The organising campaign in Metro Poland is part of a broader Uni Commerce programme to unionise the workers in commerce multinationals in Central and Eastern Europe. The companies targeted include also Tesco, Carrefour and Rewe-Billa. In addition to Poland, the Uni Commerce project covers the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia. Preparations are now being made to expand it to Lithuania as well, where Ica-Ahold and some other companies are now establishing themselves. In a separate project, Uni Commerce is preparing a campaign to organise workers in Metro and other multinationals in the Russian Federation. |
