Report 33 Med Meeting Rome
Transcript
Report 33 Med Meeting Rome
33rd meeting of the Mediterranean Group 5 October 2011 - Rome Draft report of the meeting Participants: CYPRUS ( PASYDY –OEKDY SEK, FSGA SEK ), FRANCE (CGT), GREECE (ADEDY), ITALY (FP CGIL, CISL FP), PORTUGAL (SINTAP, STAL, STE), SPAIN (FSC CCOO – FSP UGT) Apologies: FRANCE (CFDT INTERCO); ISRAEL (UCAPSE); MALTA (GWU); SPAIN (USO) 1. Opening, announcements and adoption of the agenda The meeting was chair by Rosa Pavanelli, PSI and EPSU vice-president; She recalled that on the same day was the general strike in Greece against the measures imposed by the troika and announced the solidarity of Mediterranean trade unions to Greeks workers and the unions. 2. Address of CNEL Presidency The address on behalf of CNEL (National Committee for Labour and Economy) was played by Francesca Santoro, President of the Commission for European and International Affairs of CNEL 3. Address of Italian trade unions The opening speech, on behalf of the Italian trade unions, was made by Giovanni Faverin, general secretary of CISL FP: 4. - EPSU and PSI policies and activities Rosa Pavanelli presented the agenda of the next EPSU executive committee on 8-9 November, the next PSI executive board on 23-24 November 2011 and informed on the next 29th PSI Congress in Durban, South Africa on 2012 (27-30 November) 1 The Mediterranean Group (MG) decided to prepare together the PSI Congress (possible resolution until 27/4/2010 and amendments until 27/07/2012). Will be involved all the components of the Group, member or less of PSI Silvia Candida (CISL FP) presented the item on public procurement, Enzo Bernardo (FP CGIL) on Revision of Working Time Directive, Jesus Gallego (FSP UGT) on Gender Equality Issues. On working time directive it was presented the recommendation of the EPSU Secretariat to approve the mandate as proposed by ETUC and enter into the negotiations with the employers on changes to the Working Time Directive. It was presented the EPSU Water Campaign and the next preparatory steps for European Citizens’ Initiative. The MG noted the reports. 4. Up-date on Mediterranean migration projects Mirko Checcacci (CISL FP) presented the activity of the Group on the migration issues. Starting from the 2009 EPSU Congress resolution on migration until the PSI-Med Group project on “Public Services meet migrants” (Bari and Malaga Conferences, May-October 2010). He reported on the EU funded project on migration “Information et formation des représentants des travailleurs publics sur l’accueil des migrants”, presented by CFDT Interco, that start on 11 th October2011 in Paris with the 1st steering committee meeting (October 2011September 2012) Enzo Bernardo presented the proposal to present a call in the ENPI (European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument) – Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme, leading by the Italian Sardinia region (http://www.regione.sardegna.it/speciali/enpicbc/en/) The Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme is part of the cross-border cooperation component within the new European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The Region of Sardinia has been designated as Joint Managing Authority by the participating Countries. The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to promoting a sustainable and harmonious cooperation process at the Mediterranean Basin level by dealing with the common issues and enhancing its endogenous potential. Spain: Andalucia, Catalunia, Comunidad Valenciana, Murcia, Islas Baleares, Ceuta, Melilla United Kingdom: Gibraltar Portugal: Algarve 2 France: Corse, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Italy: Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana Malta: the whole country Greece: Anatoliki Makedonia - Thraki, Kentriki Makedonia, Thessalia, Ipeiros, Ionia Nisia, Dytiki Ellada, Sterea Ellada, Peloponnisos, Attiki, Voreio Aigaio, Notio Aigaio, Kriti Cyprus: the whole country Turkey: Tekirdag, Balikesir, Izmir, Aydin, Antalya, Adana, Hatay Morocco: Oriental, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate, Tanger-Tetouan Algeria: Tlemcen, Ain Temouchent, Oran, Mostaganem, Chlef, Tipaza, Alger, Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Jijel, Skika, Annaba, El Tarf Tunisia: Madanin, Qabis, Safaqis, Al Mahdiyah, Al Munastir, Susah, Nabul, Bin Arous, Tunis, Al Arianah, Banzart, Bajah, Juridubah Libya: Nuquat Al Kharms, Al Zawia, Al Aziziyah, Tarabulus, Tarunah, Al Khons, Zeleitin, Misurata, Sawfajin, Surt, Ajdabiya, Banghazi, Al Fatah, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Damah, Tubruq Egypt: Marsa Matruh, Al Iskandariyah, Al Buhayrah, Kafr ash Shaykh, Ad Daqahliyah, Dumyat, Ash Sharquiyah, Al Isma’iliyah, Bur Sa’id, Shamal Sina’ Jordan: Irbid, Al-Balga, Madaba, Al-Karak, Al- Trafila, Al-Aqaba Syria: Al Ladhiqiyan, Tartus Palestinian Authority, Israel Lebanon The project called “Trade Union Solidarity and Cooperation for Migrants’ Rights in the Mediterranean Region” and asked to all participants to show their interest to the project. A preliminary meeting will be held in Brussels on 7 th November, before the EPSU EC. Aim is evaluating the possibility of preparing a project proposal for the ENPI standard projects II call that shall be issued in end of the year. The deadline for the presentation of the full Project Proposal is December (tentative). Info on results will be issued during the 3rd quarter of 2012. The implementation period of the project would be 2013 – 2014. The tentative duration of the project: 2 years, with a total budget of €500.000 €2.000.000 (this includes the budget for all the partnership and for the 2 years). The MG noted the reports and it is invited to reply about the interest for ENPI project in the meeting on 7th November in Brussels 3 5 -Crisis in the Mediterranean area and round table discussion on the situation in different countries Rossana Dettori, general secretary of FP CGIL introduced the discussion on the austerity measures imposed by the national governments ad by the European Commission, ECB and IMF. Vassilis Xenachis, ADEDY, presented the dramatic situation in Greece. Francisco Braz, STAL, Michail Michalis, SEK, Ricardo Freitas, Sintap, Miguel Segarra, FSC CCOO, Paulo Ferreira, STE, Françoise Geng, CGT and Rosa Pavanelli participated in the discussion. Giovanni Faverin presented a report on “Redevelopment of the public expenditure and of the citizenships’ services: the trade unions role”. The MG agreed the following statement and mandated Rosa Pavanelli to represent this position inside EPSU and PSI The Mediterranean Group express its strongly solidarity to Greek unions that will held a general strike today and the next 19th October. The Med Group also send its solidarity to the French union for its action day on 11th October The economic crisis is the priority of the priorities for our unions and must be the same for EPSU. The attack to public service is the hugest threat we’ve ever been facing and that threats public service workers, citizen’s rights, and the role of trade unions and social partners. We need to deeply investigate the reasons of the financial instability that is affecting all the Mediterranean countries, putting them under attack of the financial speculation and the troika policies, since to put discussion on such a fundamental issue as implied under the generic label "economic crisis" will not allow in-depth understanding of the specific situation, nor effective reaction to it. In the Med Group opinion it is worth, at least, as much attention as the Russia and Central Asia situation. These items must be permanently on the EPSU agenda, and therefore the med group ask that a specific point shall put on the agenda of the next EC meeting and the following meeting as well, until the situation remains so critical. The Med group also believes that the ETUC demonstration are very important, but that it could be more effective to have industrial action taken by affiliates at national level in all Eu countries, with an aim to produce a coordinated Eu-level response under the umbrella of EPSU; and, on the other hand, 4 that more multilateral coordination between unions in that direction would help the discussion within EPSU 6. Solidarity to SNAPAP, Algeria Rosa Pavanelli presented the difficult situation of SNAPAP union in Algeria. We learn of the attempted assassination on 15 July 2011 of Rachid Malaoui, General Secretary of PSI Algerian affiliate SNAPAP. The attack to the union continuing without the support and the solidarity of others unions. The MG present the following statement, offers its support and denounces the attacks and violence against members of SNAPAP and other trade unionists in Algeria. I sindacati del Gruppo Mediterraneo aderenti a EPSU e PSI esprimono viva preoccupazione per gli episodi di violenza, intimidazione e minacce che il sindacato autonomo algerino SNAPAP da mesi va denunciando. Nel luglio scorso il suo Presidente Rachid Malaoui è stato oggetto di minacce di morte e di un attentato, al culmine di una serie di attacchi che hanno visto attaccare e chiudere sedi sindacali, aggredire dirigenti sindacali e l’assassinio di un militante a Orano, fino all’episodio denunciato domenica 25, con l’intimidazione del proprietario dei locali che ospitano la sede di SNAPAP, da parte di un ufficiale di polizia, che ha dichiarato di agire su istruzioni della Presidenza della Repubblica, affinché rescindesse il contratto di locazione pena la denuncia e i sigilli al locale per 5 anni e, proprio oggi, è giunta la denuncia che, in una sala del Ministero dell’educazione dove stava incontrando dei lavoratori precari, alcuni poliziotti avrebbero selvaggiamente picchiato Kabache Mohamed fino a fargli perdere i sensi e richiedere il ricovero nell’ospedale Mustapha Bacha. Tutto ciò ci fa temere che il cambiamento democratico reclamato dalle migliaia di cittadini nelle manifestazioni della scorsa primavera, rimanga lettera morta, lasciando il campo alle minacce e alla rivalsa di un regime che si conferma sordo alle aspirazioni democratiche del suo popolo. Nell’unirsi e sostenere la denuncia presentata da PSI al Presidente Bouteflika, chiedono la cessazione di ogni violenza nei confronti di SNAPAP e dei suoi membri, chiedono il rispetto della libertà di associazione, di tutti diritti sindacali e dei diritti umani 5 e civili per i lavoratori e gli iscritti al sindacato algerini e si impegnano a vigilare affinché ciò avvenga nel pieno rispetto delle convenzioni internazionali e a denunciare i responsabili inadempienti. Esprimono solidarietà ai colleghi di SNAPAP e si impegnano a vigilare affinché la loro libertà di esprimersi, organizzarsi e godere pienamente dei diritti sindacali, sociali, economici e politici venga riconosciuta e rispettata. I sindacati del gruppo del Mediterraneo chiedono che l’EPSU intervenga presso la Commissione Europea e le Istituzioni europee affinché intervengano presso il governo algerino per fermare l’escalation di violenza nei confronti dei colleghi di SNAPAP e perché nelle relazioni anche economiche in essere e/o in via di definizione tra la UE e l’Algeria il rispetto e la verifica delle libertà sindacali e dei diritti umani siano posti quali condizioni vincolanti. (to be traslated) 7. Next meeting of the Mediterranean Group; (Cyprus 2012, France 2013) The next meeting of the Mediterranean Group, the 34 th, will be held in Cyprus in the second half of the year during the Cypriot presidency of the EU. The MG warmly welcomed the candidature of the French unions to organize the 35th meeting in France on 2013 (the last Med meeting was in Paris, on 8-9 February 1993) The Mediterranean coordination group will inform about the next coordination meetings. 6 8. Other business 8a) Mediterranean seats The MG confirm the Mediterranean seats inside PSI EB and EPSU Gender Equality Committee PSI EXECUTIVE BOARD (rotation as decide in Wien, Malta and Tel Aviv) YEAR 2011 2012 TITULAR PAVANELLI (ITALY) PAVANELLI (ITALY) 1ST SUB ISRAEL SPAIN 2ND SUB PORTUGAL GREECE EPSU Gender Equality Committee Mediterranean Portugal Titular (2009 et 2012) M FERREIRA Paulo STE Mediterranean Portugal Titular (2010 et 2013) M BRAZ Francisco STAL Mediterranean Portugal Titular (2011) DOS SANTOS Nobre SINTAP Mediterranean Malta Titular F MAGRIN Margaret GWU Mediterranean Malta Substitute (2009) F SCICLUNA GWU Mediterranean Spain Ssubstitute F CARRERO Maria Victoria FSP UGT Mediterranean Spain Substitute F GARABIETA Maite FSC CCOO 8b) Solidarity to British trade unions on strike 30th November 2001 The MG express its strong solidarity to the British trade unions that have decided a public sector-wide strike over pensions 30 November as several major trade unions (Unison, Unite, PCS, etc) agree to ballot their members over industrial action. Government proposals to change several public sector schemes is meeting serious resistance as unions express their anger of the imposition of higher retirement ages and increases in employee contributions, despite evidence that such measures are not necessary to fund the schemes. Ballot papers will start being sent to relevant members on 11 October and the ballot closes on 3 November. The first day of action is planned for 30 November 2011, starting at 00.01am and continuing for 24 hours. 7