RS BOFOS (Republican Trade Union of Employees in Banks, Insurance Companies and other Financial Organizations of Serbia) in cooperation with the European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) and funded by the European Union organized a seminar with the theme: “Capacity building for workers’ organisations: Boosting negotiation skills: win-win negotiations“, which was held from 21 September to 24 September 2023 in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia.
The seminar was attended by more than 50 representatives of workers’ organisations from Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Croatia and Montenegro. The most important aspect of the seminar was the education of the participants in relation to "win-win" methods and negotiation strategies. Another important part of the seminar was the education of union representatives regarding the use of an assertive communication style during negotiations. A key segment of the seminar was the education of union representatives regarding developing skills that would help them feel like equals at the negotiating table, regardless of the fact that an employer in a position of power is sitting across from them. The seminar was opened by Mara Erdelj, President of RS BOFOS, and the participants of the seminar were addressed by Bjørn van Heusden, Executive Secretary, World Organization of Workers (WOW).
The seminar topics were important for trade union representatives in particular, because the participants had the opportunity to learn how to focus on the interests of the other side in negotiations, which is crucial for this type of negotiation. The participants learned to recognize the interests of the other side. The participants were able to exchange experiences related to good practice and valuable experiences from the Scandinavian countries regarding win-win methods and negotiation strategies. Workshops were held during the seminar, and the participants were divided into two working groups. One group simulated a "win-win" negotiation, and the other a “win – lose” negotiation in which a dispute arose, so the Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes should be engaged. The workshops were led by Olga Vučković Kićanović and Prof. dr. Zivko Kulic. As for the results of the seminar, the participants agreed that a "win-win" result of the negotiations can be achieved only when the parties in the negotiations recognize each other's interests. Knowing and understanding mutual interests is necessary to achieve a result that is satisfactory for both parties. In addition, knowledge and arguments should be demonstrated in negotiations, and negotiators should be experienced, quality, competent and reliable people. The solution lies in dialogue - searching for a mutually sustainable solution, and that is precisely the solution that benefits both parties, that is, a solution in which there are no losers. They also pointed to the need to publicly advocate the importance of social dialogue at the company, sector, national level, and especially at the level of the whole of Europe, so that employers, who have the leverage of power, willingly approach collective negotiations and treat the union as an equal partner. The participants of the seminar also believe that it is necessary to strengthen the culture of mutual respect and appreciation in the relationship between the employer and the union, in order to respect the interests of both parties during the negotiations, and as a result of the negotiations, a "win-win" solution will be obtained. One of the conclusions is that the trade unions should be focused on strengthening their own organizational structure, also on recruiting new members in order to gain numbers, and thus the real strength they need in negotiations. Another important conclusion was that trade unions should be ready to use institutions and individuals in their countries that deal with the peaceful resolution of labor disputes and mediation as help in negotiations. Seminar participants adopted Declaration in which they emphasized that the trade unions should promote social dialogue at the European level, as well as at the national level, through trade union activities. as well as building and strengthening the capacity of trade unions across Europe. The Declaration also states that unions should strive to provide mutual respect between workers and employers as the basis for further societal development, promote social dialogue at all levels; initiate efforts for collective bargaining and the conclusion of collective agreements; avoid any conflicts among different unions; foster a spirit of tolerance and respect for arguments, both in everyday life and in collective negotiations; ensure the independence of unions from any external influence from politics and capital; further develop collaboration, solidarity, and networking among the unions of our countries, through joint action to protect workers' rights, workplace safety and gender equality; collaborate and provide protection for the rights of workers who are members of unions from other countries temporarily working in our countries and safeguard minimum labor rights standards, and to promote solidarity, freedom, and equality as the highest values of the labor movement. “Social peace cannot be achieved through domination and divisions but through the pursuit of global job security, the expansion of the scope of labor freedom, and ending the dominance of capital over labor", was the conclusion of the participants.