Accession of Poland to the European Union – trade union’s experience

1. Accession of Poland to the European Union – trade union’s experience EMF conference Istambul, 25.04.2007 Sławomir Adamczyk NSZZ Solidarność

2. the 5th in line but unlike the previous ones this was the first to address the issue of Europe’s post-war reunification and followed the fall of the Soviet rule over Eastern Europe EU enlargement 2004

3. Inflation – 389% GDP decline – 10,5% Real wage decline – 24% urgency for comprehensive transformation of the system Starting point -1989 political freedom but also a collapse of „old” economic system

4. Recovery of the Polish economy 1990 - 1994

5. main tool for building market economy the only „panacea” for competitive challenges (according the government) as a result employment in private sector from only 9% in 1990 (mainly in SME’s) has risen to 70% in 2004 very fast and chaotic process unemployment rate also started to rise significantly Privatisation of Polish economy

6. Built from scratch since 1989 as a necessary component of transformation New partner appeared - the private employers Legal framework existed - according to the Polish Constitution dialogue among the social partners is a pillar of the social market economy Tripartite structure predominant at national level Social dialogue framework

7. 3 trade union’s confederations and 4 employers’ confederations representative at national level All together are members of Tripartite Commission for Social and Economic Affairs Legal possibility of collective bargaining since 1996 Collective agreements mainly at enterprise level Sectoral dialogue still underdeveloped Social dialogue framework (2)

8. Economy in transition (shock therapy) - independent process but in the course of time more and more overlapped with adjustment to the EU requirements Social dialogue framework in the stage of creation - lack of experiences, weakness of social partners, some solutions had to be improvised Position of trade unions - not very strong Accession of Poland to the EU - important determinants

9. 1991 – European Agreement signed (establishing an association with EU) 1993 – Poland officially invited to apply for EU membership 1998- beginning of negotiations 2003 – Accession Treaty signed (April) 2003- Nation-wide referendum accepting the Treaty(June) 2004 - since 1st of May Poland becomes EU member Accession of Poland to the EU - time line

10. Solidarność was the only trade union affiliated on European level at that time 3 main area of activity: Trying to influence the negotiation process Spreading information about the EU and delivering education for TU members Protecting workers in the process of adjustment of the economy to the EU requirements (“difficult” sectors) Trade unions’ role in the accession process - Solidarność example

11. 1996 – coordinator for European Integration issues appointed 1997 – National Integration Commission set up, composed of trade union’s experts and officials 1998 - sectoral “restructuring” initiatives were prepared by “S” branch units 1999 – trade union’s announcement, pointed out main areas in which social partners should be consulted during the negotiation process Solidarność – internal preparation

12. Screening - 11 areas of interest selected (out of 31) TU reps took part in meetings and expressed their opinions, sometimes they were taken into account Logistic shortcomings (timing, language barriers) Overwhelming quantity of documents and complexity of problems to be “digested” in very short notice Negotiations - lack of transparency, confidentiality as an excuse,most often social partners voice was not heard out Screening and negotiation process – TU involvement

13. The issue of key importance - to provide TU members with necessary knowledge about the EU Spreading pamphlets and booklets with basic information concerning EU mechanisms, especially social dialogue issues Educational schemes addressed to TU leaders from different levels (workshops, courses) Joint training initiatives taken up together with ETUC, branch federations and TU from „old” member states Information and education activity

14. Necessity to meet the requirements of EU Competition Policy European Commission calls for stepping up the pace of reform of „difficult” sectors, which means faster reduction of productive capacity and staffing level Trade unions don’t protest but ... demand socially accepted solutions Preparation to enlargement - restructuring of „difficult” sectors

15. Based on agreements between trade unions, government and employers Voluntary reduction of employment Different tools for social protection and activation on the labour market were used Preventing exclusion from labour market as a main goal Restructuring of „difficult” sectors -rules

16. 1990 - 154 000 employees, production - 13 000 tons, 95% of sector owned by state 1998 - trade unions conclude “steelworkers’ protection package” with employers’ organisations and government (prepared by TU experts) 1998-2005 - process of gradual reduction of employment, all leaving workers covered by social package 2005 - 27 000 employees, production 8400 tons, 95% of the sector privatised Trade unions’ role in restructuring process - steel industry

17. Legal framework of social dialogue – necessary for influencing the decision-making processes Participating in European social dialogue as early as it is possible – very often it gives a bonus in relationship with government and employers Strengthening of sectoral dialogue – it helps in dealing with the difficult issue of restructuring Information and education activity – TU leaders should be prepared for dealing with the challenge of enlargement earlier and better than employers Some conclusions: lessons learned from the experience of Polish TU

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