Nick BramleyUnia
Switzerland
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
European Inland WaterwaysNetwork 36,000 kilometres
Companies /Enterprises c. 8,000 (c. 50% family businesses)
Employment c. 35,000
Turnover c. €4,300 million
Modal share c. 6% - but regionally very strong
i.e. Rhine and Danube countries
NL 44%, BE 14%, DE 13%, LU 8%, CH 13%
HU 6%, AT 5%
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Social dumping in action:
Employee Romanian Bulgaria
Recruitment Agency Bulgaria Slovakia
Employment contract Hungary Cyprus
Catering contractor Austria
Vessel‘s Flag Cyprus Switzerland
Vessel‘s Owner ? Netherlands
Vessel‘s owner not necessarily legal employer.
Social Insurance – which system?
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Countering Social Dumping
Lobbying EU and River Commissions
National Control Bodies
EU Social Dialogue
Action Mobilisation
Campaigning
Recruitment
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Social dumping in action:
Lobbying the Commission – DG TREN & DG Employment- Fruitless
Lobbying Rhine Commission / CASS / UNECE
- signs of interest
Lobbying the European Parliament
- joint effort with WWF concerning NAIADES programme
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Social dumping in action:
Lobbying the Presidency: most presidencies don't know that inland navigation exists! No legislation planned for the presidencies to control.
River Commissions are interested – for various reasons – and with NAIADES implematation programme va Via Donau new perspectives open.
Social Dialogue – seen as instrument by NAIADES. Employers favour principle of «Business Centre Location»
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Countering Social Dumping
Action / MobilisationControlling vessels – Cooperation with Water Police
Building contacts to crews
Thinking and acting internationally
Working with ITF Inspectorate and Cruise Ship Task Force
Targetting specific ships and companies
Public campaigning
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Countering Social Dumping
The issues
Working time
Work-life balance
Optimistic signs in Social Dialogue
Labour shortage working in our favour
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Countering Social Dumping
The issues
Vocational training:
Harmonisation easing recruitment
Attractive professional profile brings people to the industry.
Our aim – higher qualifications
The easy way – lower qualifications
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Countering Social Dumping
Control
Who controls an internationalised industry?
Which competencies do they have
Water police – Aquapol?
Other enforcement bodies?
Commission has to authorise.
Vision:
Inland Waterways Labour Convention with River State Controllers.
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Conclusions
Lisbon Strategy helpful when emphasis is on employment and quality of employment
Concentration on competition encourages social dumping
No European employment strategy exists – only national ones
Social Dialogue offers us a European platform for the first time
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
Countering Social Dumping
ConclusionsInsititutional approach impotent without:• Control• Campaigning• Contact to members and workforce• A union presence in the ports and hubs
European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007
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