The independent energy workers union of Serbian energy company EPS and the Nezavisnost trade union representing workers in EPS organized a joint meeting to consider the collective bargaining strategy after the government annulled the collective agreement. It is not negotiating with the unions. The Presidents of the two unions together with EPSU Deputy General Secretary sent a letter to the government demanding negotiations and conclusion of the collective agreement for the electricity sector. “It is not acceptable for a government to treat unions in this way and it is out of step with the practice of social dialogue in the European Union”, he argued. EPSU and the unions of the South East European region have already sent a statement adopted in Vrnjacka Banja to the Serbian government, October 2006.
The unions also discussed the consequences of the South East European Energy Community of which Serbia is a member. Jan Willem Goudriaan presented the Treaty, the recent (lack of) progress with the Memorandum of Understanding, the Energy Community Institutions and the experience of the Internal market for electricity and gas. “It fails to deliver on the promises made. Investment is not materializing, prices do not decrease and will go up, and jobs will be lost”. He discussed the issue of outsourcing, the collective agreement, regulators and the need to discuss the Energy Community Road Maps and social actions plans. The unions' top leadership participated in the seminar. The seminar was financially assisted by PSI and took place 6-7 December 2006 Palic.
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