BNS calls for union merger and new political party

In April 2004, the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) - one of Romania's five nationally representative trade union confederations - invited the other union confederations to start talks over a possible merger. The initial responses to BNS's overtures were generally cautious. At the same time, BNS announced that it is to set up a new political party.

Prior to its congress held in November 2003 (RO0312101N), the National Trade Union Bloc (Blocul Naţional Sindical, BNS) - one of Romania's main trade union confederations - commissioned a survey among its members. The aim was to identify the most urgent problems that call for union intervention, as well as the best ways of promoting members' interests. The opinion poll, conducted by IRECSON, also investigated the way that political parties are currently perceived.

The final results were made public on 12 February 2004. The survey involved a sample of 130,000 trade union members, most of whom were 35-55 years of age (72%). Some 60% of the interviewees were men. In terms of educational level, 38.4% had graduated from upper secondary education, 26.4% had graduated from a vocational school, 11.8% had a university diploma and 10.5% had graduated from another form of post-secondary education, while only 12.9% had 10 years of schooling or less.

As perceived by the members, the main issues of concern which should be tackled by trade unions are: the rise in prices for food, electricity, heating and natural gas (identified by 96.1%); the high level of taxation (95.3%); the low level of wages (95.1%); health services (89.6%); the risk of job loss (88.6%); increasing the age of retirement (87.3%); and working conditions (81.4%).

As regards the main forms of union action to achieve their aims, the largest share of respondents would prefer strikes (80.7%), followed by public meetings (79.4%) and street marches (74.5%).

The majority of BNS members (more than 70%) consider that none of the existing political parties, either currently in power or in opposition, properly represents their interests. However, 44% of those interviewed would not encourage BNS to undertake political activities, though 39% would prefer a much vigorous political involvement by BNS. Of the latter share, 7.3 percentage points are in favour of an agreement with an existing political party, 8.6 percentage points would support such an accord if BNS were given its own seats in parliament, and 23 percentage points consider that BNS should generate and coordinate a distinct political organisation to preserve the rights and interests of union members and employees.

BNS extraordinary national council

After revealing the poll results, BNS convened an extraordinary national council meeting to decide on future actions. The council was held on 15 April 2004 and addressed mainly the strategic framework for strengthening the BNS confederation. It decided that BNS should focus more on attracting workers from the private sector, the informal economy, migrant workers and those in 'atypical' types of employment.

Resuming tripartite consultations is high on the BNS agenda in order to push for the secondary legislation that is essential in order fully to implement the Labour Code adopted in 2003 (RO0401107F), and with the aim of establishing a clear timetable for increasing the minimum wage (RO0406101F). Demonstrations will be encouraged to uphold union members’ demands.

However, the most notable outcomes of the council meeting were that, at a press conference held on 19 April, BNS invited the other trade union confederations to initiate talks in view of a possible merger, and made public a decision to establish and coordinate a new political party. A public statement said that the need for such a political party had been identified by 100,000 union members, and that the initiative would follow the examples of various political parties in the European Union successfully supported by trade unions.

Reactions of other union confederations

The press immediately sought the views of the top leaderships of other trade union confederations regarding the BNS proposition (there are five union confederations recognised as being nationally representative - RO0307101F).

Bearing in mind the failure of previous attempts at unification, Bogdan Hossu, the president of the Cartel Alfa confederation, stated that 'we would also like to know what the standpoints of affiliated federations are, and not only those of the top leaders, who declare something today and something else tomorrow'. Cartel Alfa proclaimed its general openness to dialogue in view of a merger with BNS. However, it underlined that it would not be in favour of any political partisanship and is thus unwilling to engage in politics or to merge with the National Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Romania 'Brotherhood' (Confederaţia Naţională a Sindicatelor Libere din România Frăţia, CNSLR Frăţia) which, in its view, may be accused of being to close to the ruling Social Democratic Party (Partidul Social Democrat, PSD).

In its initial response to the proposal, the Democratic Trade Union Confederation of Romania (Confederaţia Sindicatelor Democratice din România, CSDR) showed little enthusiasm and questioned the likelihood of unification.

The merger plan received the warmest welcome from CNSLR Frăţia, which in 1998 launched a similar proposal that was rejected. This confederation publicly expressed its hope that 'this time it would be more than just a simple game for a good image and we will really sit down to negotiate'.

Commentary

Over 6-20 June 2004, local elections were held across Romania. The media noted that many local trade union leaders, belonging to all the nationally representative confederations, stood as candidates in elections for mayors or local councils, either individually or on the lists of existing political parties. The president of Cartel Alfa allowed its officials only to stand as individual candidates and forbade any support from political parties. Despite this, local union leaders did not hesitate to ally with parties or to engage in other kinds of collaboration, and no general tendency can be observed in respect to their preference for either the ruling or the opposition parties. This was also true for BNS members.

The preliminary results of the local elections indicate that the parties that currently do not have any seats in parliament registered only marginal successes, regardless of their long-running and well publicised efforts to gain mass support. Therefore, it seems there is very little room for new political parties (such as that mooted by BNS) in Romania at present and the political 'market' is rather closed.

The call for trade union merger and consolidation is a different issue, and may have some success. The differing political orientation of the union confederations, either christian democrat or social democrat, might create some obstacles. However, there is a strong driving force towards concentration in the sharp decline in the number of employees that has occurred over the last decade, accompanied by a reduction in trade union membership. However the political uncertainty until the end of 2004, when general elections will be held, will not make the path towards unification any easier. (Diana Preda, Institute of National Economy)