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EuroCOP Spring Committee 2008, Stockholm
(Stockholm, March 10, 2008)
EuroCOP forms a common platform through new subcommittees
Strikes in the Netherlands, abolition of military jurisdiction in Slovakia and health risks connected with digital radio. Again, the EuroCOP Committee in Stockholm had many various subjects on the table, proving how important the work of EuroCOP is to its members. This was stressed by EuroCOP Vice President Jan Schonkeren, who headed the meeting.
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Stockholm. Wanja Lundby-Wedin, President ETUC and EuroCOP Executive Committee.
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Former EuroCOP Vice President Peter Ibsen puts down his vote for a Subcommittee member.
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Three new subcommittees
Some of these subjects might very well be part of the work of the three new subcommittees that were formed: Gender; Health and Safety; and Information, Consultation and Participation.
The chairs elected for the respective Subcommittee were Jackie Muller, SPF, Gender; Dionysios Marinos Xanthos, PFP, Health and Safety; and Frank Richter, GdP, Information, Consultation and Participation.
Frank Richter started his work already in Stockholm by making a suggestion to the EuroCOP Committee:
"We could have one [specific] day where we promote different issues, not on location in the country [with problems], but in our own respective country."
EuroCOP Executive Committee Member Miroslav Litva stressed the importance of the subcommittees.
"EuroCOP's direction on this matter is correct. We need to create a common platform for all EuroCOP member organisations and evaluate the conditions in various countries. This it what the subcommittees are there for."
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Some rights conquered, some lost
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"Rights are not given, they have to be conquered." The President of
AUGC Spain, Joan Miquel Perpinya said in a comment, explaining the situation of the Guardia Civil in Spain.
Many rights, including the right to be a member of a representative organisation, have been conquered, but the price has been disciplinary sanctions against staff representatives.
The Slovak police are no longer under military jurisdiction and the EuroCOP Executive Committee Member and President of the Slovak Police Union OZP, Miroslav Litva, could not be more satisfied with this piece of news.
"We want to thank EuroCOP for its support, without it [we would most likely still] be under military jurisdiction."
In the Netherlands, a football game had to be postponed because the police was on strike due to stranded talks with the interior ministry.
Willy Valckx, Vice President VMHP explained:
"We said that we won't go along anymore and therefore we went on a strike".
The Dutch police unions are allowed to go on strike, which is not the case for many other unions in Europe.
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New Portuguese Observer Member
Another Portuguese Police Union, namely Associação dos Profissionais da Guarda (APG), representing the military police, applied for Observer status in EuroCOP. The application was unanimously accepted by the EuroCOP Committee.
"[We strive towards] putting an end to all military police. EuroCOP is real important to us in doing so," José Manageiro, President of APG said.
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Lundby-Wedin: Equality important for unions
"The union is nothing without its members," Wanja Lundby-Wedin, President of the ETUC and guest speaker, said in her speech and added that the power of the union comes with each individual member which strengthens the collective.
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Another important issue, according to Lundby-Wedin, newly elected as the first female President of the ETUC, is to strengthen women's position on the labour market.
Female police officers have existed in Sweden for 50 years, which Lundby-Wedin high-lighted in her speech.
"50 years ago, female police officers had to wear a skirt and they were not allowed to drive a car," she said.
According to Wanja Lundby-Wedin, women are important in the union movement.
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"We might focus on different issues [since] we have different experiences. Female workers earn less, often work part-time and have experience with being discriminated against on the labour market."
She also stressed the importance of men taking part in equality questions:
"You men can't say 'take care of the equality issues'. It is important that men participate in discussions on gender issues. In the ETUC we still have a 'Women's Committee', even though we should have called it 'Equality Committee'. But many women are afraid that they wouldn't be able to take part there either if the name changed."
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Jan Karlsen, SPF; Wanja Lundby-Wedin, President ETUC and Jan Schonkeren, Vice President EuroCOP.
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Irish and British member organisations take active part in the EuroCOP Committee meeting.
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APG Portugal is unanimously accepted as new Observer member in EuroCOP.
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