Nick BramleyUnia

Switzerland

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

European Inland WaterwaysNetwork 36,000 kilometres

Companies /Enterprises c. 8,000 (c. 50% family businesses)

Employment c. 35,000

Turnover c. €4,300 million

Modal share c. 6% - but regionally very strong

i.e. Rhine and Danube countries

NL 44%, BE 14%, DE 13%, LU 8%, CH 13%

HU 6%, AT 5%

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Social dumping in action:

Employee Romanian Bulgaria

Recruitment Agency Bulgaria Slovakia

Employment contract Hungary Cyprus

Catering contractor Austria

Vessel‘s Flag Cyprus Switzerland

Vessel‘s Owner ? Netherlands

Vessel‘s owner not necessarily legal employer.

Social Insurance – which system?

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Countering Social Dumping

Lobbying EU and River Commissions

National Control Bodies

EU Social Dialogue

Action Mobilisation

Campaigning

Recruitment

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Social dumping in action:

Lobbying the Commission – DG TREN & DG Employment- Fruitless

Lobbying Rhine Commission / CASS / UNECE

- signs of interest

Lobbying the European Parliament

- joint effort with WWF concerning NAIADES programme

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Social dumping in action:

Lobbying the Presidency: most presidencies don't know that inland navigation exists! No legislation planned for the presidencies to control.

River Commissions are interested – for various reasons – and with NAIADES implematation programme va Via Donau new perspectives open.

Social Dialogue – seen as instrument by NAIADES. Employers favour principle of «Business Centre Location»

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Countering Social Dumping

Action / MobilisationControlling vessels – Cooperation with Water Police

Building contacts to crews

Thinking and acting internationally

Working with ITF Inspectorate and Cruise Ship Task Force

Targetting specific ships and companies

Public campaigning

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Countering Social Dumping

The issues

Working time

Work-life balance

Optimistic signs in Social Dialogue

Labour shortage working in our favour

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Countering Social Dumping

The issues

Vocational training:

Harmonisation easing recruitment

Attractive professional profile brings people to the industry.

Our aim – higher qualifications

The easy way – lower qualifications

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Countering Social Dumping

Control

Who controls an internationalised industry?

Which competencies do they have

Water police – Aquapol?

Other enforcement bodies?

Commission has to authorise.

Vision:

Inland Waterways Labour Convention with River State Controllers.

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Conclusions

Lisbon Strategy helpful when emphasis is on employment and quality of employment

Concentration on competition encourages social dumping

No European employment strategy exists – only national ones

Social Dialogue offers us a European platform for the first time

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007

Countering Social Dumping

ConclusionsInsititutional approach impotent without:• Control• Campaigning• Contact to members and workforce• A union presence in the ports and hubs

European Transport Workers’ FederationInland Navigation Section - Lisbon, 15.11.2007