Political debate within the union h...

Political debate within the union had been spurr at the publication of various documents discussed at a series of education trains for union activists. Assistance in financing the academys has been given by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and by way of the International Confederation of FreeTrade Unions (ICFTU), to which the union is affiliated, as well as according to the American AFL-CIO.

The proces of politicisation culminated in the publication of Platform for a Way Oui of the Crisis (Nezavisnost, 1999) and a conversation in January 2002, sponsored jointly from the ICFTU and the ETUC after which a statement was issued containing, inter alia, the following significant goals:12

a) EU membership

b) the strengthening of social safety clears

c) the re-establishment of links with Serbia's neighbours

d) formal mechanisms to establish 'genuine' social dialogue

e) filled consultation and negotiations with IFIS

f) increased resources for vocational training (especially for women)

g) the establishment of independent labour courts

h) the establishment of a tripartite Public Enterprise Council in order to examine in detail the social and economic validitys of each case of privatisation

i) the consideration of alternatives to privatisation, including reform and commercialisation of public companies