The two largest trade unions in Bulgaria - CITUB and CL Podkrepaare warning the Government that they will leave the National Trilateral Co-operation Council
The management of CITUB and CL 'Podkrepa' demanded in September a new identification procedure for the nationally representative trade unions. The trade union leaders Jeliazko Hristov and Konstantin Trenchev threatened that otherwise they may leave the National Trilateral Co-operation Council. The reason for their reaction was the participation of 'Promiana' trade union in the last meeting of the National Council
The large trade unions do not want 'Promiana' to participate in the negotiations with the Government
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Confederation of Labour Podkrepa (CL Podkrepa) are about to make a decision to cease their participation at meetings of the National Trilateral Co-operation Council (NTCC), announced the leaders of the two trade unions Jeliazko Hristov and Konstantin Trenchev. The threat to leave the council is protest against the participation of the United Trade Unions Association Promiana (Promiana) in the last meeting of the Trilateral Council. Both organisations accused the Government that it secretly recognised Promiana as nationally representative trade union and thus had included it in the meetings of the trilateral council.
On the 26 November 2004 the Government recognised Promiana as nationally representative organisation. Pursuant to the Labour Code requirements a nationally representative trade union status may be awarded only to a trade union with at least 50,000 members and established shops in more than half of the branches and municipalities.
A little after the Government issued its decision the leader of CL Podkrepa Konstantin Trenchev appealed against it before the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC). According to Hristov and Trenchev, while the legal dispute on the Promiana case is finally solved, it would be illegal for its experts to participate in the trilateral commission.
'We will insist on introduction in September of new census procedure of trade union organisations and employer associations, which will participate in the dialogue with the Government on national level', said Trenchev. In order to introduce the procedure there has to be first a decision of the Trilateral Council and afterwards the Government should issue a decision for the introduction of the new procedure.
The two trade unions will make a final decision on whether to leave the trilateral dialogue at the meetings of their management bodies (the Confederate Council of CL Podkrepa will seat on 10 March and the Co-ordination Council of CITUB - on 15 March).
At the last meeting of the Trilateral Council it approved changes in the Ordinance on salaries in companies with more than 50% state or municipal interest. In fact, there is a slight liberalisation of the growth rate of salaries at these companies, while so far raises were frozen. At the meeting thanks to the votes of Promiana it was decided to limit to 4% the growth rate of salaries in companies with more than 50% state or municipal interest. Both CITUB and CL Podkrepa voted against this decision and insisted on 7% raise.
Moreover the participants in the National Trilateral Co-operation Council supported the proposed amendments to the Ordinance on pensions and insured length of service, whereas the overtime worked will be summed up and registered in the employees’ service record.
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