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<< atgalLPSDPS chairman arguments in favor of national agreement

2009-10-22

On October 21 after intense debate during Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LPSK) Board meeting by small margin of votes was decided to sign the National Agreement.

Lithuanian service sector workers' trade union chairman Alexander Posochovas, even some time before advocated against the draft agreement, this time, voted in favor. Chairman of LPSDPS present his arguments to its members.


I did long review, studied many agreement drafts. I think that the main achievement of the union, that signing an agreement we will counter the Government possibility without negotiations unilaterally worsen people's working conditions. Such us before Confederation was deciding on agreement, into the agenda of the Government was already included the projects unfavorable to employees, but LPSK wrote a letter with request not to discuss such project draft, and the request was granted.

The National Agreement provides that in the absence of the Tripartite Council approval, which consists of the government, employers and trade union representatives, the government will not be able to change work-related legislation.

We are criticized that from the agreement pensioner’s issues were removed. However, trade unions defend the interests of employees. Retirees have their own organizations, whose views we support. Overall, it seems to me that people often confuse the trade unions to parties or social movements. Social movement is for one specific purpose, such as the Movement “for Zalgiris”. Parties aim to achieve power, well, the trade unions - to ensure employees stability. Sometimes the trade unions ‘are assigned’' that they are related to social democrats or even other parties, but it should be noted that the union is always in opposition to government whatever party or coalition it may be.

With regard to money, to budget opponents I want to refer to children's blankets model. If the bunch people will try to pull the blanket on itself, then everyone will freeze. If you choose to cover feet and all of us to take responsibility for this decision, to some extent we all win. Same with the budget: if the teacher wins, it will be disadvantaged to mothers or librarians, and so on.

I would like to talk about the format of the agreement. For example, the agreements at European level - between the European Commission, the European Trade Union Confederation and the European employers' organizations - are sleek, they provide only external, a very broad framework. Same approach with multinational companies that have businesses in many countries. After all, in this case a collective agreement cannot be too specific, because each country is in very different situation, different laws, so each company also must have its own agreement.

Same goes with the national agreement, which is only as a large frame, it fails to address all relevant issues of related branch unions. This requires branch agreements between the trade unions operating in the branch and relevant ministries and employers' associations. Well, another link is the companies or enterprises collective agreements, as branch agreement does not discuss only one company-specific issues.

Mistakenly believed that if the agreement is signed by the national trade union, it will not be able to express their opinions by protest. Document does not contain such an item and the trade unions in any way waive protest, especially if the Government fails to comply with its obligations. On the other hand, the decision to sign the agreement was made by narrow margin (14 against 10 votes), therefore the government really have nothing to rejoice, because this ratio can change very quickly to the other side. I am of the position: if possible, the objective should be achieved by negotiations, and only if it fails to achieve, then protest.

Another complaint to LPSK as to other two national trade union centers that they receives money from the government. The promotion of social partnership project implemented from 2007 and is addressed to the regional trade union development. I responsibly declare that LPSDPS has not received from the Government any Litas. For the opponents that call us ‘political prostitutes’ I want to say that the Church authority receives from the Government about 10 million LTL, but no one accuse it of that. Maybe it just means that it is influential?

 

Aleksandras Posochovas

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