Communique of the meeting of presidents of trade unions of Visegrad countries

On May 22-23 the trade union leaders of the Visegrad countries hold their second meeting in Budapest.

Presidents of the Czeh, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian trade union confederations exchanged views on the experiences of the first year of EU membership and the most important economic, social issues facing workers and the challenges ahead of trade unions.

Unions consider the first year of EU membership a year of unrealised fears and expectations – accession to the EU was not accompanied by radical changes in the life of workers and their families. Neither the previous concerns, nor the excessive expectations have been prooved. The unions consider the EU membership as an essential framework for economic and social development, for eliminating poverty.

Workers have supported one year ago the accession to the social Europe; the social values and rights continue to be of basic importance. Codification of workers and trade union rights in the fundamental law of the community and their practical application are not factors damaging competitiveness, but strenghten the livable community based on social solidartity.

The participants underlined that the significant economic growth in the four Visegrad countries have not brought about the improvement of the living and working conditions the wage and salary earners; the development of real incomes are not in conformity with the dinamic increase of productivity.

The trade unions consider unacceptable that with the use of the argument of improving competitiveness initiatives and decisions have been made to liberalise the economy, public services, to flexibilise regulations regarding the world of labour, the labour codes – by doing away with social solidarity.

They express their concern that „simplification” of taxation systems happen on the expense of the most exposed stratas of the societies. The unions will jointly step up against taxation systems creating more favourable conditions for the capital.

The participants of the meeting pointed out that the first year of the EU membership did not justify those fears in the former EU member states, which served as reasons to introduce transitional restrictions for the freedom of movement of labour. It was emphasised that free choice of employment does not only constitute a basic right, but support the elimination of illegal employment. The participating unions jointly step up for the termination of transitional restrictions after the first two years.

Unions of the four countries support that workers taking up employment in another EU member state enjoy the same rights as workers of the given country. Unions will act together against practices of employment agencies to be used as a means for avoiding labour regulations.

The organisations participating to the meeting intend to coordinate their stances in the various European foras, in matters of interest to employees.

The trade union confederations from the four countries consider the membership in the European Union as a chance which they intend to use in the interest of workers, wage and salary earners, pensioners; in order to realise the most of the expectations in the shortest possible time.

It was agreed to convene the next meeting of the Visegrad countries trade unions in the autumn of 2006 in Poland.

Budapest, 23. May 2005