Trade unions in Estonia

September 2007 Gert KulatosJana Morozov

Unions

Union density rate - approx. 10%Confederations: EAKL - Confederation of Estonian Trade

Unions re-established in April 1990 (first TUC in 1919)

TALO - Estonian Employees’ Unions’ Confederation split from the EAKL in 1993-1994

EAKL – Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions

39,1 thousand members19 affiliates in: industry, transport and private services health care state and local authorities

EAKL Secretariat (11 employees) 6 regional officesCentral office: President Organisational secretary Legal secretary Wage secretary International secretary PR-manager

Social dialogue 1992 April – first tripartite agreement 1992-2003 – 17 tripartite agreements

Minimum wage State unemployment allowance Basic income tax exemption Participatory democracy Guarantee fund Principles of new Labour Contract Act

Bipartite negotiations Unions – employers

National: confederations Branch: sectoral

federations/associations Company: union and employer

Unions – government Civil servants’ salaries Teachers’ salaries

EAKL–Employers’ Confederation

December 1999 - memorandum February 2001 – unemployment

insurance March 2001 – social partnership August 2001 – principles of increasing

minimum wage for 2002-2008 September 2003 – principles of new

Labour Contract Act Agreements on minimum wage (2002,

2003, 2004)

Collective agreements Total coverage – 26% 1 national agreement 2 sectoral/branch agreements

public transport health care

Energy, railway, mining covered by company agreements

Achievments Participatory Democracy Agreement

(1996) Guarantee Fund (1998) Trade Union Act (2000) Extension of national and branch

level collective agreements Social Insurance Reform (2000-

2002)

Labour conflicts Autumn 2002 – EAKL broke off the

dialogue with the government December 3, 2003 – teachers and

employees of cultural institutions went on 8-hour strike 2 solidarity strikes

September 23, 2004 – engine drivers went on 6-days strike

Priorities for unions Organising and recruiting members Increasing representativity Increasing bargaining capacity Increasing ability to take industrial

actions 2004 – EAKL and affiliates organised 16

strikes, demonstartions, picketing etc.

Challenges Reluctance of the

state/government to engage in social dialogue no real interest in social partners’

involvement refusal to allocate ESF money for

social partners’ capacity building

Challenges (2) Forcing the government/state:

to abolish the total ban on strikes of civil servants

to inform and consult unions Increasing the employers’ interest

in collective bargaining strong will to lower standards

Eesti Teenindus- ja Kaubandustöötajate AÜ (ETKA)

Established: 4.April 1990 Trade sector - employees ~72 000 - union members ~ 90%

employees

ETKA history: 1991 – 1995 Break-Ups and Bankruptcy of different trade organizations - Break-ups of different trade union organizations - Huge decline in members for the union 2002 – 500 members in union 2003 became member of ESAL 2005 Collaboration ended, because ETKA development halted 2007 over 800 members in union

ETKA Members (1)

Trade SectorTallinna Kaubamaja Ametiühing Prisma Peremarket Ametiühing Rapla Tarbijate Ühistu Ametiühing Järva Tarbijate Ühistu Ametiühing Pärnu Majandusühistu Ametiühing Rimi Eesti Food Ametiühing

ETKA Members (2)

Tartu Tarbijate Kooparatiiv Ametiühing K-Rautakesko Ametiühing Võru Tarbijate Ühistu Ametiühing Kilingi Nõmme Ametiühing Elva Tarbijate Ühistu Ametiühing Abja Tarbijate Ühistu Ametiühing ABC King Ametiühing

ETKA Members (3)

Selver Ametiühing Viljandi Tarbijate Ühistu CoMarket Ametiühing Põltsamaa Majandusühistu Ametiühing K-Cordisk Ametiühing ETK Laagri Maksimarket Ametiühing Säästumarket Ametiühing

ETKA Members (4)

Restaurant- & Hotel sector Reval Hotels Wilde Irish Pub Esprei&Vespe

ETKA Members (5)

Security Falck - Ida Eesti Falck – Lääne Eesti

Negotions

Bipartite negotions - company - branch

Tripartite negotions - goverment, employer & union alliances

Negotions Legislation

- Collective contract law - Kollektiivse töötüli lahendamise seadus - Trade union law - Employee trust person law - Work legislation

Negotiation process

1. Letter to Employer - proposal to start negotiation; - Assembly of union delegation; - Signer; - Collective contract project2. Negotiation have to begin

within 7 days!

Negotiations Problem

- little skills from employer and/or union - Forceful position from employer or

goverment towards negotions - Little or no wish to reach an agreement - Social dialog doesn’t go well

Negotiations in practise (1)

Reaching agreement without giving in What to do? - seperate people and problem - Vision (what you try to achive) - Emotion - Communication People – Soft Problem - Rigid

Negotiations in practise (2)

Focus on interests, not positions

- Defining interest

- explanation to other part

- focusing on wished results

Negotiations in practis (3)

Creating options Create options for mutual agreement:

1. avoid premature decision

2. don’t border -> widen options

3. avoid approach ”win-lose”

4. Finding solutions should for both sides.

Negotiations in practise (4)

using objective criterias

- what are other sides explanation for suggestions - using opponents way of thinking - both sides have to remain open - not to give in to pressure,bribary,threats

Ending negotiations

Possible in 2 ways

1. Signing collective contract - Execution of collective contract 2. Collective contract will not be signed - industrial conflict  

Wilde Irish Pub (1) Negative experience

- union made a proposal to start negotiations

- Employer was not interested in negotiating

- trade union turned to state conciliator to begin

reconciliation process

- trade union included state conciliator to

negotiation process

Wilde Irish Pub (2)

- Employer did not wish to fix work and wage policy

- Employer started stalling negotiation process

- Employees were passive

- agreement was not reached

- Negotiations have stopped

New trust person and trade union law

Positive Experience

- 2006 Ministry of Social Affairs proposal to

change law

- legislative proposal for hostile towards trade

union

- EAKL turned to ILO for help

- ILO brought out 21 problems, which were

conflicting ILO convection

- Estonian unions stepped out for their rights

New trust person and trade union law (change)

Trade unions achieved: - better trust person law - Ensuring better trade union rights in the

new law Glossary - Achiving success in co-operation with

different trade unions

Pictures from protest

Pictures from protest

Pictures from protest

Pictures from protest

Thank you for attention Our contacts

Elle PütseppTrade Union of EstonianCommercial and

ServicingEmpolyees, chairman. E-mail:elle.pyy@mail.eePhone: +372 7 441 830Fax: +372 7 407 577GSM: +372 55621200

Jana MorozovCouncilman, regional

coordinatorE-

mail:janamorozov@gmx.net

Phone: +372 7 441 822GSM: +372 53 49 1171

Gert KülaotsMemberhirerer and activistE-mail: gertkylaots@hot.ee