Gdańsk June 2011

1. Social Dialogue and organising workers in Commerce Sector in Poland Department of Development Union National Commission of The Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union „Solidarność” Gdańsk June 2011

2. Union density NSZZ „S” in 1991 - 2010

3. Approximate employment in the biggest chain of stores

4. Commerce sector in Poland nowadays Union density ~ 6 %

5. Organization in company – it depends on power organization (membership). Strong union (mining, metallurgy) focus on negotiations. Weak organization (commerce, security sector) focus on organizing Medium priority Regions – decisions are very diversyfied. Every each of 34 Regions has development coordinator, but some Regions hasn’t yet union organizers (in total 40) Medium priority National Commission – Executive Board (Presidium) defines union development as priority. Department of Development Union has opereted since 1998 (staff of 16), but we need to fashion new model and proffesionalization Medium priority Political decision level on organizinig – priority in daily life of trade union

6. Practical cases Coca-Cola near Warsaw Team: 2 coordinators from N.C., 2 organizers from Region Mazowsze, union reps from Coca-Cola, reps Food Workers Secretariat Kaufland (all Poland) Team: organizers from Regions + coordinators from N.C. + union reps from Kaufland Regional companies Organizers from Regions + coordinator from N.C. Companies are sellected according to reaserch the market and development strategy. Multilevel organizing campaigns and this one depend on company size and their attitude to union. Implementation organizaing campaigns – target, who and how

7. New organizations – organizing campaigns Establishing contacts with employees (phone numbers, adress, e-mails) Meetings with workers 1 on 1 and group Collecting problems Identyfing laeders Meetings and training leaders Leaders and organizing team organize workers around the problems (sign up union cards) – build-up the union Registration union and negotiations Agreement Promotion union parallel organizing camapign (discount cards „Grosik”) and publicize campaign in media Existing organizations Mostly by the training for leaders (training – how to organize workers) Next leaders recruit new members in company – monitoring action by Region and N.C. …however existing organizations in commerce sector – cooperation trade union structures: national, regional, commerce section and organization from companies Building new organizations and organizing new members in existing organizations

8. Organizing campaigns in sectors, when mostly young people work (commerce, banks, services) Cooperation „S” and Independent Students Association – work on agreement going on Social campaigns and media – changing image Tools, which are used by young people (internet tv, facebook, twitter) Demonstration and pickets are colourful and they take on the character of happening. Concerts, less bovvers and fairing tires Youth coordinator – conferences and work meetings Specific ways to attrac young workers in trade union?

9. Obstacles Union priorities awareness of leaders Posibilities budget and staff Antyunion Goverment, Employers and media policy Challenges Actual union actions around the priority - development Concrete budget and personal decisions Professionalization of development actions (analysis, education, organizing, trainings, promotion – everything support by marketing strategy) Major obstacles / challenges to organizing

10. Why Kaufland? Along with 5 other companies it owns majority sharesin marketof commerce sector, because of that it has impact on working conditions in the whole branch Non-union workplace Problems of workers Aim: To make an agreement concerning improvement of working conditions and possibility for Trade Union to have easy accsess to the workers Success storyWorkers organising campaignin Kaufland Polska Markety PLCAction time: February – December 2010

11. 1st Phase: Choosing places for organising action time till 21st February 2010 Kaufland Stores in: in Chorzów (2), Ruda Śląska (1), Wrocław (2) 2nd Phase: Forming large-scale base action time from 22nd February 2010 to 7st May 2010 Conducts one-on-one organizing (collecting phone numbers, e-mails, address) 1 on 1 mtgs Identyfying problems Identyfying leaders Leaders mtgs Signing people up [union cards] - Trade union organisation on enterprise level was registered 3rd Phase: An escalation, social campaign action time 8.V. – 6.VI.2010 A petition concerning workplace issues and the free right to join union is delivered to the management A petition is given by Regional Offices of Solidarność to store directors Handing out leaflets to customers in front of the stores Elements of campaign

12. 4th Phase: Crisis creating action time 7.VI. – 25.VI.2010 Pickets in front of the stores in Wrocław, Ruda Śląska 5th Phase: Reaching the agreement Negotation agreement - meeting protocol July 2010: Kaufland company backed out of part of agreement concerning free union access to employees Creating a new plan concernig Kaufland logistic center in Piotrków Trybunalski as a "place responsive" to workers protests because of chain delivery system. Elements of campaign

13. 6th Phase: Forming large-scale base action time 6.IX – 10.X.2010 Conducts one-on-one organizing, Workplace issues, Recruiting leaders, Signing people up [union declaration] 7th Phase: Escalation action time 11.X– 14.XI.2010 A petition concerning workplace issues and the free right to join union is delivered to the management A petition is given by Regional Offices of Solidarność to store directors & logistic centre director Handing out leaflets to customers in front of the stores Elements of campaign

14. 8th Phase crisis creating action time 15.XI – 26.XII.2010 Pickets in front of the logistic centre in Piotrków Trybunalski Pickets in front of the stores in Wrocław (2 stores), Piaseczno, Piła Cash-desks blocked in Ruda Śląska store Preparation for Berlin’s picket in cooperation with Ver.di 9th Phase Reaching the agreement Negotation agreement - meeting protocol Elements of campaign

15. Theagreement

16. web site: Smiling Cashier 27.05.2010

17. The solution:smiling cashier appeals to customers Run of the campaign

18. Issued appeal5 problems: • low wages • Lack of interest in sincere dialogue • Bad treating (insults..) • Bad safety at work (too high workload) • Lack of facilitaties concerning combining of private and working life

19. A signature on web site: one click Click & Help

20. We share information about working condition on Facebook Like it!

21. We encourage market/supermarket workers to join Join us

22. Organizing workers – building power Union Ostensible dialogue → constructive conversation with employers Begining colective bargaining in some companies Employment stability (rotation 25-100%) Access to workers agreements Middle-term plan: Project – Biedronka, Carrefour Destination target – sectoral colective agreement (key companies) Challenges

23. In Europe we all have the same employers (multicompanies) in our countries If we want to win agreements for workers We need to cooperate to build up the union power contact www.solidarnosc.org.pl kacper_stachowski@solidarnosc.org.pl conclusion