Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Slovak Republic Freedom of Association Collective Bargaining Social Dialogue Slovak Republic Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Situation in Slovakia Slovak Republic We have passed over the transition from socialism to a free market economy successfully. We have a period of painful economic reforms is behind us. for example - Pension reform - shift from a solidarity-based pension system to the new private individual savings system. Unions have any influence to process of privatization. Government did not allow unions to participate in major economic and social decisions. Trade union membership is about 30 % coverage of employed person in Slovakia. In the private sector unions are largely not present. Generally new private owners are reluctant to bargain. Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Collective bargaining Slovak Republic Collective bargaining is a well developed and important part of industrial relations and one of the most important pillars of social dialogue in Slovakia. Collective bargaining is initiated by one of the parties. The contractual parties have a duty to bargain. Two basic forms of employees’ representatives are works councils and - trade unions. Collective bargaining in Slovakia is usually conducted at two levels: - sector or branch level union confederations (relationship with left-wing politics parties) - enterprise level Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Legislation Slovak Republic Legislation is sufficient Generally legal and institutional framework in Slovakia: - Slovakia is member of the EU - Slovakia has ratified all fundamental ILO conventions - We have freedom of associations off course - We have right to strike and collective bargaining - We have valid principles of collective bargaining and social dialogue - Government control over minimum wage (317 EUR). Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Reality Slovak Republic But on the other hand we have many problems associated with issues: - Lack of capitalism tradition and express switch to market economy - High level of corruption, harmful effects for whole society - Some managers (private owners) and politicians during a short period of time became multimillionaires (they have money, they have power, they are arrogant, ...) - Impact of economic crisis for the last time - High and persistent unemployment (on the present approximately 14 %) - Unemployment resulting in the fact that many new jobs are law paying Unfortunately in Slovakia government no decision has been made yet how to cope with these problems. Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Collective bargaining - levels Slovak Republic Sector level The Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic (KOZ SR) is a national trade union center in Slovakia (biggest one confederation approximately 400 000 members). Enterprise level Example is our company LPS SR Air Navigation Service Provider Average Salary in Slovakia (the Lowest average salary in Eurozone) Industry sector 788 EUR IT technology sector 1 553 EUR (LPS SR as a service provider belongs to IT sector) Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Challenges Slovak Republic We are facing decreasing number of our members. Unfortunately we bargain better work conditions for all employees not only for our members (employees are afraid to be a union members). Social Dialogue The majority of the population has failed to return to the standard of living indicators prior to 1989 (particularly elder workers and older population). Slovakia (and maybe all Eastern European States) has deviated considerably from the values, principles and standards of European social standard (Decent Work). Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Transport Sector Slovak Republic Road sector Railway sector Slovakian Trade Union of Railway Workers (approximately 10 000 members, company is in the loss in the long term and nowadays is under preparing collective redundancies of 4 000 employees). Slovakian Trade Union of Railway Workers has experience with strike and confrontation with management (2003). This was biggest one in Slovakia. Strike of railway workers did not succeed. Government qualifies strike as an “illegal”. Railway management and judicially have showed that strike was “legal” after one and one half year (2004). Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Civil Aviation Slovak Republic Civil Aviation - LPS SR Air Traffic Service Provider We have own experience with strike and confrontation with management (2007). Strike of air traffic controllers did not succeeded and had negative consequences for us. Instead of constructive dialogue around table we were facing: - strong pressure from management - absence of political will to conflict resolution - harm of employee’s representative’s - continual anti - union harassment and practices - frustration of our members - negative management attitude towards social dialogue. Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS European level Slovak Republic SES (Single European Sky) Within the framework of European initiative SES one FAB (Functional Airspace Block) have been established FAB CE that means for us environment of high competition (seven countries). We have good relationship with colleagues from seven countries and our mutual cooperation is excellent. ETF, ITF member Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS

Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS Recommendations Slovak Republic Our long term goals and effort for the next years are: - to improve working conditions - to build trade union credibility (especially for young people) we are facing syndrome of post communist heritage and decreasing number of members - acceptance of trade unions as a social partner instead of the lack of trust - to find the link between productivity and wages Conclusion Even losses are useful for us as lessons for developing new strategy. We are optimistic and we believe in better future. Budapest 16 – 17 February 2011, DECENT WORK FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS