The contents of the seminar

Mr Martin Rømer, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Committee for Education, welcomed the participants and stated the objectives of this seminar:

Martin  Rømer explained also the steps taken towards a European Sectoral Social Dialogue and what is required from ETUCE and its affiliates as well as from the employers to establish a Social Dialogue Committee at European level. (Download his presentation from the "Seminar documents" section of this Home Page.)  

The participants at the seminar adopted also a solidarity resolution in favour of the Bulgarian teachers' trade unions.  Bulgarian colleagues explained the very difficult situation of their members and the harsh attitude adopted by the government in the negotiation process. The Bulgarian trade unions do not see any other option than to take massive industrial action.

A comparison of teachers' wages in represented countries showed clearly that the demand of the Bulgarian trade unions are more than justified:

Primary and secondary level: monthly salary in €

A debate about the state of play of Social Dialogue in the represented countries was introduced by David Poissonneau, ETUCE and the opportunities for national trade union organisations to make use of various European Funds and projects to promote social dialogue were presented by Elena Jenaro.

After an introduction on the structure, the probable contents and perspectives of Sectoral Social Dialogue at European level the participants exchanged national experiences in creating/ managing a national working group and discussed strategies on how to coordinate the unions and act jointly with the employers in order to set-up national workings group