Cedanka Andric from the Education and Research Centre of the TUC Nezavisnost based in Serbia discusses the key political issues facing the Balkan region and the implications for the role of trade unions and workers’ education.

During the past ten years Europe has undergone major changes affecting both political systems and borders. The Balkan peninsula was particularly turbulent.

The crisis present in the countries of this region has greatly affected all population categories, with the exception of the ruling oligarchy, which attracted to its side a class of "nouveau riche" who took advantage of abnormal circumstances to accumulate enormous wealth.

Trade unions which bring together people of different ages, social status and educational background have faced great challenges, particularly in the period when wars raged in most Balkan states.

Armed clashes in the Balkans have aggravated the already difficult economic situation in the region. Countries which have been spared direct armed conflict embarked on transition processes with all the accompanying difficulties, but have saved human lives and a great deal of material resources.

The breakup of former Yugoslavia and subsequent war brought about many deaths, while economic facilities have been largely destroyed.

Defending trade union and worker unity

With the escalation of conflict and hatred, trade unions tried to maintain cooperation even when countries were in direct armed conflict with each other. By calling responsible parties to account, trade unions preserved the space for inter-union cooperation and solidarity. There were some exceptions, particularly with pro-government trade unions which could not or did not want to distance themselves from the ruling political party. In their servile attitude towards the regime, instead of protecting employees’ interests, they labeled newly emerging and independent trade unions as national traitors. This is particularly true of the situation in Serbia where the Trade Union Confederation "Nezavisnost" was founded in 1991 in response to the mounting social crisis, poverty, unemployment, nationalism and war.

Despite the euphoria over the creation of homogenous nation states, trade unions in this part of the world have managed to keep workers of different nationalities as members. They understood that the struggle for better living and working conditions was their primary goal. Workers’ education has an important role in this process, although the number of trade union members who completed some form of trade union training is lower than the real needs require. Education funds established by some trade unions cannot meet all the needs for education, so mobilisation of material and technical resources remains the greatest obstacle to the expansion of an educational network.

A new role for trade unions

Bearing in mind that our societies are experiencing the destruction of the former and creation of the new social structure, the emergence of a new concept and practice of trade unionism is inevitable. In such circumstances trade unions should focus on the following strategic issues:

· The creation of a new social environment, with a mixed ownership structure as its main characteristic;

· Market economy;

· Multiparty parliamentary democracy;

· Socio-economic rights of trade union members and all employees;

· The establishment and implementation of a strategy which aims to create trade union autonomy in relation to the state, employers and political parties. There should be a struggle for democratic principles of trade union organisation and realistic forms of social power which establish trade union as agents of stability and social balance.

Workers’ education for trade union members should take into consideration all these elements, and regard the education process as the first step in trade union activities. With this in mind, educational programmes mainly cover the following areas:

· Education for democracy and democratic social order;

· Economic transformation of society and modern market economy;

· Trade unions and postindustrial society;

· Trade unions and politics:

· Organizational principles and action methods;

· Collective bargaining;

· Protection under labour law;

· Workers’ participation.

Trade unions and the transition

The period of transition which has been unfolding with varying degrees of intensity in the region, means that trade unions have an obligation to undertake an active role. Here I mainly have Serbia in mind, since it lags drastically behind in the transition towards an open – pluralist, democratic and prosperous society. In addition, it is a country where transition is associated with manifold risks which make the ultimate outcome quite uncertain. The effects of the policy pursued so far on economic development and employees’ position have been disastrous. Continuos drop in output and national income, technological lagging and loss of market, the sum of officially recorded (840,000) and hidden unemployment (800,000) which combined result in the alarming 50 per cent unemployment rate, with a large number of displaced persons and refugees (after the Kosovo conflict that number almost reached one million) are only some of the indicators of obvious degradation. It is the price of postponement of changes, war, and breakup of the former and isolation of the present Yugoslavia.

Trade unions and employees are facing a decisive choice: either to "support" which means to unwillingly agree to occupy the position of a subordinate who seeks social protection and maintains the illusion of employment, with declining levels of unionisation – declining share of unionised members of dwindling number of (lawfully) employed – or to settle for illegal employment on the shadow labour market without any protection.

Opting for decisive economic – above all ownership – changes and the necessary political changes are not free from risks, at least in the short run. Assuming that the majority manages to overcome their existential fear and peaceful changes and opening of the country occur, there is the realistic risk that to survive and attract foreign capital, employees and trade unions might agree to even lower levels of labour law and union protection. TUC Nezavisnost is ready to assume the risk of changes, aware that a higher price will be paid for long procrastinated changes, because there is neither time nor space for wrong choices. In this undertaking, educated trade union membership is a factor to be counted on.

In June 1999 the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe was signed in Cologne with the aim of developing a long-term strategy for the stability of the region. Trade unions must assume their role and promote the social dimension of the Pact. Only authentic social dialogue and full participation of workers through trade unions in the process of reconstruction and integration can ensure the success of the Stability Pact.

Contact Cedanka Andric at: +381-11-3239003 (phone); +381-11-324418 (Fax); candric@eunet.yu (email).