Taking a more active role in the company policy

In the short- term, this project will aim to raise awareness amongst ETF affiliates of the regional railway policy. "And the long - term objective is to enable railway unions to participate actively in the drawing up of company policy," explains Christina Tilling from the ETF.
These needs of the participants were identified during a seminar on privatisation of state railway companies from Baltic countries - September 2000. In Baltic countries, the railway unions hold a difficult position. There the railway sector is undergoing two major processes, both of which will have a strong long-term impact on the employed labour force: restructuring/ liberalisation under the recommendation of the EU; and development of railway system as a part of the European transport network.

The problem is: Railway unions are not consulted in the restructuring and liberalisation of railway companies. In the context of the economic transition, the railway unions from Baltic countries understand, that, whilst striving to maintain their membership, they have to adjust to the new economic policies tailored according to internal needs and external requirements, the latter being increasingly important particularly in the context of enlargement.
In the recent years railway unions have witnessed the increase of consulting firms' influence on company policies. They, together with employer/ national government are the only decision making factors in drawing up this policy. Railway unions are rarely consulted and only as long as their input serves the wanted final outcome. In some occasions, governments put pressure on railway unions to agree with the solutions proposed by consultative firms, under the argument that these solutions are compulsory pre-conditions for enlargement!
They are therefore keen on taking a more active role in the company policy in order to be able to control its effects on their membership.

View the agenda for the seminar below

For further information please contact Christina Tilling: c.tilling@etf-europe.org

Useful links:

www.europa.eu.int

http://www.europa.eu.int (pdf)

Chair persons:
Savelij Semionov - President, Latvian Railway Trade Union
Al. Muhlinkins - Vice president, Latvian Railway Trade Union

Resource people:
Sabine Trier - ETF Railway Section Secretary
Cristina Tilling - ETF Coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe
Vladimir Irishkov - consultant

Contributions:
Claudia Menne - TRANSNET
Representative of the EU Mission to Riga - to be confirmed

Local organiser:
Latvian Railroad Trade Union (Latvijas Dzelzelnieku Arodbiedriba)
Dzirnavu str. 147a
Riga LV-1050
President: Savelijs Semjonovs
Contact person: Inese Rudae
Tel: +371 583 4466
Fax: +371 721 3558