In November 2003, the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS), Romania's second largest trade union confederation, held its fourth congress. As well as electing a new leadership and approving a strategy for 2003-7, delegates debated the minimum wage and BNS involvement in the political arena.
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In November 2003, the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS), Romania's second largest trade union confederation, held its fourth congress. As well as electing a new leadership and approving a strategy for 2003-7, delegates debated the minimum wage and BNS involvement in the political arena.
The National Trade Union Bloc (Blocul National Sindical, BNS) is Romania's second largest trade union confederation (RO0307101F) and one of its most active social partner organisations. Thus, its fourth national congress, held on 12-14 November 2003 in Sibiu, central Romania, attracted considerable interest.
The congress brought together around 600 people. As well as BNS delegates, these included invited representatives from other Romanian trade union confederations, the Romanian Presidency and government, and social dialogue institutions. It was also attended by guests representing trade unions from nine European countries and Japan, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and the US, French and UK embassies in Bucharest.
The congress approved modifications to BNS's statutes, elected a new leadership - the president, general secretary, four vice-presidents and 13 confederal secretaries for particular sectors - and discussed and approved the confederation's strategy for 2003-7.
The congress adopted a new approach, aimed at guaranteeing wages able to ensure the minimum conditions for a decent life, equal opportunities and access to continuing vocational training. BNS is calling for a minimum wage of at least 60% of the average wage, linked to the prices of a minimum 'basket' of consumer goods, so that by 2007 it should equal the lowest minimum wage in the current EU Member States (Romania is expected to join in 2007). Concerning the minimum wage for 2004, BNS has proposed a monthly level of ROL 3.8 million (EUR 95), a figure which seems to be supported by the employers` organisations, though it exceeds the government's proposal of ROL 2.8 million (EUR 70).
Adrian Năstase, the Prime Minister, addressed the BNS congress online, through a special communication system, from the Victoria Palace (the government's headquarters) and replied to the minimum wage demands that 'it is not our wish that the trade unions and the employers' organisations come to an agreement at the government's expense'. Mr Năstase also suggested in his message that 'one cannot bring together a capitalist market economy and communist social protection'. Dumitru Costin, the BNS president, announced that he would not sign a 'social stability pact' suggested by the government unless the minimum wage was substantially modified, and said that the government appeared to be ready to agree with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on social policies before discussing the issues with the social partners.
At the international level, BNS decided to continue to act as an active promoter of 'European values' in industrial relations and to participate in all activities carried out by International Labour Office (ILO), ICFTU, ETUC and other European social dialogue institutions, including in connection with the the Council of Europe's European Social Charter.
Overall, the BNS strategy for the next four years includes specific objectives in various policy fields, including: taxation; the state budget; monetary and incomes policies; trade; competition and governmental aid; the labour market; the public pensions system; the health insurance system; insurance against work-related accidents and industrial diseases; unemployment assistance; and sectoral policies. As some representatives of trade unions from other countries commented, the strategy is practically 'an alternative governing programme'.
Indeed, during the debates several participants suggested the creation of a new political party. In this respect, prior to the congress, a questionnaire was distributed among trade union members asking them to choose from four alternative ways to promote trade union interests, including agreement with a social democratic party or setting up a new political party. The Romanian media paid special attention to these debates and asked the opinion of Ion Iliescu, the President of Romania, and of Mr Năstase, the Prime Minister, who were both, in one way or another, unfavourable to the idea.
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