From June 30 to July 2, 2022, the 33rd KGZE 2022 took place in Ljubljana / Slovenia, with the topic "KGZE – How can be build a viable society based on a "new balance" after overcoming the global coronavirus pandemic? Could more dialogue between trade unions and civil society stakeholders contribute to building a new society?”. It was organised by ÖZA (Austrian Centre for Employee Education), with the support of EZA and financed by the European Union.
55 representatives of workers' organisations from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Kosovo (as guests), Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia took part in the event.
Thursday 30 June 2022
Opening of the KGZE 2022 and welcome by the organisers: In his welcoming address, President Norbert SCHNEDL refers to the optimistic title of this KGZE for the organiser ÖZA, which should enable us to overcome the current crises (corona, war, climate). Awareness of the EU as a peace union has increased significantly. At the same time, the media, reporting as the 4th power in the state, play a key role in shaping society. A big thank you for the joint organisation and the excellent cooperation with ZD-NSi, our partner in Slovenia. The former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in Slovenia, Janez CIGLER-KRALJ, warmly welcomes all participants of the KGZE in Ljubljana. He describes the fight against increasing poverty as the greatest current challenge. The metrics are dramatic. To do this, the social dialogue, which has recently been severely slowed down, must be strengthened again. This requires fair relations between employers, employees and the state (tripartite).
Friday 01 July 2022
How can we, as employee organisations, find a new balance for a sustainable society in the triple crisis: pandemic, climate crisis and war in Ukraine?
Dr Karin PETTER-TRAUSZNITZ moderates the first seminar block on Friday.
In his presentation, Andreas GJECAJ, ÖZA, describes the current situation as mutually reinforcing "multiple crises". These intensifying crises (corona, war, climate) have caused deep cracks in our society. There are no easy solutions, there are “no tricks”. As trade unions, we can contribute our negotiation experience to the social discourse and strengthen negotiation skills for social dialogue. As a representative of ZD-NSi Slovenia, Klemen STIBELJ describes the dramatic changes caused by the current crises. He sees an appreciation of the craft and the associated promotion of teaching as highly necessary to survive in a changed working world.
"What orientation can Christian social values offer us in building a sustainable society?"
As an expert in social ethics, Dr Karin PETTER-TRAUSZNITZ will introduce the content and moderate the second seminar block. In his presentation, Alfred ZANKANELLA, ÖZA describes the last decades - especially in Western Europe - as an error: "We have confused prosperity with democracy!" He also points out that Europe is larger than the EU. There is currently a tendency towards authoritarian populism of a nationalist nature in parts of the population. This requires a clear attitude towards compliance with agreements (international law), so that a medieval law of the thumb does not spread. "A full stomach is a sign of prosperity, but the back keeps us upright!" Since Matej CEPIN was absent at short notice, the three speakers held a panel discussion with the participants: Andreas GJECAJ, Klemen STIBELJ, Alfred ZANKANELLA. The demand is the sentence: We must turn politics into social politics!
“How can the dialogue between trade unions and civil society actors be strengthened. Successful example of networking of youth organisations. “
This seminar unit will be moderated by Alex JANSA, Austria, general secretary of the FCG youth. Thomas CAPONE, Italy, from the EZA youth platform and as youth representative from UNIAE, presents his powerpoint. It shows very vividly how it is possible in the Internet world to repeatedly approach young employees with information and services, but also to give very basic suggestions: "How to learn to work!" The President of the FCG youth, Desislava Fatahi, Austria addresses the war situation in Ukraine, which is considered completely unimaginable, especially for young people. Because lies and propaganda are always used in war, the FCG youth are very committed to fighting fake news via their own social media channels. There are good increases in reach here.
"After overcoming the corona pandemic and the effects of the Ukraine war, the EU must devote all its energy to the "green deal". Where are we on the rocky road to climate neutrality? “
This seminar unit will be led and moderated by Dr. Marija ROGLAR, Slovenia. The President of LCGB, Patrick DURY, Luxembourg, pointed out in his speech that despite all the difficulties of the Covid pandemic, some things could also be implemented within a short time, e.g. legal regulations for "home office" within a few weeks. Citizens must be involved in the “green transformation” strategy, e.g. deadlines for combustion engines. MP Romana DECKENBACHER, Austria, reports on numerous initiatives of the Austrian federal government to cushion the consequences of the crisis, e.g. a ticket for public transport, which is valid throughout Austria for all public transport (bus, train, ...). There is also plenty of support for commuters who depend on a vehicle to get to work.
Saturday 02 July 2022
Country reports from the participating countries:
On the current status of multiple crisis management and its impact on our organisations
Moderator: Andreas GJECAJ, ÖZ
In an introductory statement, Mara ERDELJ, Serbia, shows her powerpoint about BOFOSJADA and other activities, including the use of alternative building materials that are ecological, natural, and healthy. With another powerpoint, Jelena SOMS, Lithuania, describes the role of trade unions and cooperation with NGO’s, e.g. with the Red Cross. In the country reports, there is an exchange of views on their respective situations.
The ÖZA President, Dr. Norbert SCHNEDL, Austria, draws six conclusions from the KGZE: We live in the age of multiple crises; "social dialogue" makes us fit for the future; Our Christian social values are valid; We want to promote dialogue with civil society; Breaking new ground with our youth; Be active together in the EZA network
Conclusions
FIRST: We live in the age of multiple crises
Europe is currently facing the highest price increases in over 40 years. Fuel and household energy are the main price drivers, but this has an impact on almost all sectors of the economy: prices for food, rent, electricity and heating, diesel and petrol as well as everyday goods have risen extremely sharply in 2022 and make the population overall face great financial challenges and put low-income groups in real emergency situations.
Together with the corona pandemic, which has not yet been finally overcome, the Russian war of aggression that is unfortunately raging in Ukraine with millions of displaced people and the necessary transformation of our "way of life" - our way of living and doing business - keywords: climate crisis, globalisation, digitisation and age structure, all of these crises cannot be seen separately from each other, but are in mutually reinforcing interaction - they are: multiple crises!
SECOND: The "social dialogue" makes us fit for the future
At the beginning of the 21st century, more and more people around the world and in Europe seem to be realising that the world is no longer what it was when we were children. What's more, it will never be the same again! It almost seems as if the ever more widespread crises are no longer the exception to the "normal world", but the new normal. There are more and more attempts to describe our present and, above all, our future: there is talk of the digital age, of globalisation that is turning our world into a village, and of artificial intelligence or virtual realities ... what remains is the realisation that with every description only new confusion arises.
And yet our life goes on. Even at the beginning of the 3rd millennium, trade unions and employee organisations are in the process of representing the interests of their members, fighting for the rights of employees and creating a balance through negotiations in social dialogue, which is secured by collective agreements and laws.
THIRD: Our Christian social values are valid
What all EZA member organisations have in common is that they describe themselves as independent and value-oriented from political parties. The common "foundation of values" on which the trade unions and workers' organisations stand as members of EZA is the orientation towards "Christian social teaching" - although this is very differently pronounced in individual countries. This is challenged by two views widely shared by the public and the media:
- Firstly, international competition – which now affects us all as a result of the globalisation of the economy – is primarily about competition and competitiveness. The credo of the 21st century seems to be that anyone who invokes values has already lost.
- Secondly, trade unions should only represent the interests of their members and ideologies or religions, such as Christianity, are declared a “private matter” that have no place in the modern working world.
We are strongly opposed to such a view and say: “Unions are motivated and inspired by their values. These form the basic framework of their structures. Having very specific values is motivating and reinforces activities. In recent decades it has become increasingly clear that it is very challenging for trade unions to adapt their activities and strategies to these values." (EZA Seminar, Valencia, 2022)
FOURTH: We want to promote dialogue with civil society
If we want to become "sustainable" again, we must pick up speed in the direction of a global "eco-social market economy" that seeks and finds a new balance between fair competition, a just regulatory framework in the welfare state and the vital protection of the environment. This is the only way we will move from a "civilisation of overexploitation" to a "civilisation of sustainability"! This is the only way the "Green Deal" can succeed in the EU!
This balance is becoming more and more difficult, tied only to the knot of “gainful work”. Rather, at the beginning of the 21st century civil society cooperation structures and solidarity relationships emerged which indicate that a reorganisation of the social division of labour is in full swing. Therefore, we not only want to promote critical thinking in our employee organisations, but also strengthen the dialogue with actors from civil society.
FIFTH: Breaking new ground with our youth!
To find a "new balance" after the global corona pandemic, deep rifts in society must be overcome. The widespread irreconcilability of positions, the increasing loss of facts that negotiating partners can “put out of dispute” because they are accepted by both sides, leads to mutual deadlock and social paralysis. Dialogue is an indispensable tool here. Not only the classic interest groups, but all citizens will have to raise their voice for the continued existence and further development of democracy in the future. By involving civil society actors in the social dialogue, this important and indispensable tool for a sustainable society can be further developed.
This networking was impressively presented in the contribution of the EZA youth platform. In the future it will be necessary to use all technical possibilities and the "world-wide-web" to be successful. The vitality of our youth encourages us, despite all the crises, to look to the future with confidence and optimism!
SIXTH: Be active together in the EZA network!
The country reports have once again shown how much the crises and the possible solutions affect us all – despite the different starting points. Corona virus makes no distinctions and affects everyone equally, the climate crisis does not end at national borders but has an impact worldwide and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine affects us all.
Especially in 2022, the EZA network is proving to be helpful in encouraging personal exchange. The indication that “man does not inhabit planet earth, but people (plural!)” is intended to encourage us to look at what we have in common and not to confuse prosperity with democracy. With this KGZE 2022 in Ljubljana, we want to continue to build on the strengthening of our democratic and constitutional order.