Newsletter 2014/II.

Elections in Hungary - LIGA Trade Unions’ demands towards the new Government

On 5th April the ruling party in the past 4 years was re-elected, so conservative FIDESZ-KDNP coalition will constitute the government again with 2/3 majority in Hungary. As this government initiated changes in the Hungarian Labour Code and Strike Act in 2012, LIGA, Democratic League of Independent Trade Unions demands from the new Hungarian government to ease the legal burdens it puts on the workers. LIGA demands furthermore expansion of employment, enhancing health- and safety at work, increasing wages and allowances as well as a sustainable economic policy.

According to István Gaskó, the President of LIGA, it should became possible now to ease the strict legal measures (including the Labour Code) that were enacted at the worst time of the crisis at its depth. The government should admit that the Strike Act in its recent form makes strikes impossible in Hungary, which is untenable. LIGA demands furthermore the reinforcement of the position of the social partners, increase of wages and allowances.

LIGA’s Migration project

LIGA has continued its popular Project on “Developing Information for Migrant Workers through Transnational Trade Union Cooperation” (financed as well partially by the European Commission) with the Romanian partner CARTEL-ALFA and the British partner TUC. They held their first workshop in Budapest in March 2014, where apart from Hungarian officers and representatives from the partner-countries representatives from Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Austria took part in the fruitful debates and exchanges of good practices. The second workshop was organized in London in April with Italian, Polish, Bulgarian trade union representatives, as well as migrant workers from England who have to tackle the problems of finding information of their rights and obligations in the labour market in the foreign country.

Professor Sonia McKay (Working Lives Research Institute) presented her expert study into the nature of migration in the UK, the labour market, industrial relations and the kind of commonplace exploitation that both migrant and British workers faced.
The workshop generated stimulating discussion. Participants from central and Eastern Europe shared insights into the nature of migration from their countries to the UK and other ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''receiver'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' countries and the kind of difficulties workers face when arriving in Britain. They described how many did not know their employment rights, had difficulties with language and often faced poor conditions or exploitation at work.

LIGA launched its Vocational Education Programme

As indicated in the previous newsletter, LIGA’s experts are currently working on a comprehensive education material for undergraduate students in vocational schools which can be introduced in September 2014 which aims to educate the youngsters about the world of work and establish the first contact with the trade unions.
In March 2014 LIGA launched the “Work” Project vocational forum, which aims to create the education material of employment know-how. This time the forum aimed to build the input of the teachers and employers into the material, which will be created by September 2015. The need arises from the fact that it is a common phenomenon that young entrants sign labour contracts without being aware of its content and implications. It is the most important thing, as the new Labour Code changed in nature which puts more on employees. Educating employees’ know-how creates the opportunity for young people to be up-to date with what is happening on the labour market.

28th April - International Worker’s Memorial Day

As it is already a tradition, LIGA Trade Union commemorated again on April 28 2014, the international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work. Workers'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Memorial Day is an opportunity to highlight the preventable nature of most workplace accidents and ill health and to promote campaigns and union organization in the fight for improvements in workplace safety.
LIGA organized a two-day conference and LIGA Youth organized a flashmob. On April 28th, young representatives from LIGA made a street performance in Budapest; they formed a cross and made a memorial in order to raise attention to the killed and injured workers last year. Other representatives of LIGA visited the Memorial of Injured and Killed Workers in Hungary together with the members of the National Health- and Safety Committee, employees’ and employers’ organizations and health- and safety representatives of different companies as well as with members of NGOs, in order to promote the urgent need of creating safe and healthy workplaces. LIGA stands for its belief, that health- and safety should be an integrated part of labour-market policies independent from politics at all times. LIGA is ready to tackle these challenges together with all the trade union confederations in Hungary.

Workers’ Day 2014

As its tradition every year, LIGA organizes a May Day on the 1st May 2014. LIGA Youth raises attention with a flashmob which intends to express the need for a proper social dialogue in Hungary.
István Gaskó, the President of LIGA will welcome the members of all Trade Unions from the Confederation on its 1st May celebration with sport events and concerts in Budapest.

---

Képek: