PSI Europe Youth work

HIV/AIDS prevention among youth through the Internet

On 22 December 2006 the seminar “HIV/AIDS prevention among youth through the Internet” was held. Ten representatives of PSI affiliates took part in this event. The seminar was organised by Alekzander Melnik, chairman of public organization Youth Center “Forum”. He presented statistical information about the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kiev, Ukraine and the world. He also  explained disease transmission and prevention. He stressed that youth have to play a key role in solving the HIV/AIDS problem. The participants also worked with web resources devoted to HIV/AIDS.

For more information please contact Alla Shilova: shilova_alla@ukr.net or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

European Union Enlargement and its impact of on young workers in the Republic of Moldavia

A PSI conference with the subject: “European Union Enlargement and the Impact of this process on young workers in the Republic of Moldavia” was held on 6-7 December 2006, in Chisinau, Republic of Moldavia. At this Conference, organised with PSI support, there were participants from the Government, Presidency, from all the Moldavian PSI-affiliated trade unions and also guests from some non-governmental organisations. They presented and discussed subjects such as: experiences in the process of the accession to the European Union, the National Policy about the Youth in the Republic of Moldavia, the present situation of the young workers in the Public Sector in the Republic of Moldavia, etc. The Conference was a special success because of the large amount of information from those who presented the different subjects and also because of the very constructive debates during the two days. This Conference has become a tradition already expected with a real interest by those involved and by the young trade unionists, who consider it as the most important source of information for them and the colleagues they represent.

For more information, please contact Claudia Petcu from SANITAS: federatiasanitas@adslexpress.ro or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

Health Care Reform in the South-East European Countries: the impact on young workers

This seminar was held on 25-28 November 2006 in Sinaia, Romania, with the theme: “Health Care Reform in the South-East European Countries: The Impact on Young Workers”. The participants were 21 young trade unionists, 13 women and eight men. The agenda covered: the legislation in the health care field, what is good and what is bad about the changes in each country, advantages and disadvantages for the young workers, etc.
The exchange of experience during the seminar help each participant to gain extra knowledge, helping them to identify the good parts and the bad parts of the system in the countries they came from and  they also learned new methods of negotiation in order to get some direct advantages for the trade union members. The young participants considered this seminar very useful and they expressed their wish and that this kind of seminar be repeated.

For more information, please contact Claudia Petcu from SANITAS: federatiasanitas@adslexpress.ro or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

HIV/AIDS – The Impact on the Workers in the Public Services

A seminar with the theme “HIV/AIDS – The Impact on the Workers in the Public Services”, for the youth representatives in Romania and Moldavia, was held between 8 and 11 October 2006, in Predeal, Romania. The participants were 20 young trade unionists from Romania and Moldavia, 10 women and 10 men. The lecturer of this seminar, a medical assistant, made a complete presentation of the HIV/AIDS phenomenon. The seminar participants held very interesting discussions that brought them to the conclusion that they knew few things about this subject and especially about the incidence of HIV/AIDS and its effect on the workers in the public services. The conclusion at the end of the seminar was that no effort is too big to inform and protect the young people about this lethal virus.

For more information, please contact Claudia Petcu from SANITAS: federatiasanitas@adslexpress.ro or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

Training Young Trainers

The seminar with the theme “Training Young Trainers”, organised between 21 and 23 August 2006, was one of the most appreciated seminars for young people organised in Romania. The participants were all under 35 years old and the gender balance was respected. There were subjects of trade union ABC and we emphasised techniques of training for trade union members and also recruitment techniques to attract new members. This seminar was a real success, and the participants requested that PSI  continue with further modules in 2007.

For more information, please contact Claudia Petcu from SANITAS: federatiasanitas@adslexpress.ro or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

The Trade Unions’ Role in the Implementation of HIV/AIDS Prevention Program among youth

A Seminar on the theme of “The Trade Unions’ Role in the Implementation of HIV/AIDS Prevention Program among youth” was held on 25-26 October 2006 in Kiev, in the building of the Trade Unions Federation. The seminar was organised by the Central Committee of Trade Union of Health Care workers of Ukraine and Public Services International. The youth representatives from all PSI affiliates in Ukraine had been invited to the seminar.

The aim of the seminar was to define the main trade unions’ approaches to HIV/AIDS:

• HIV/AIDS prevention,
• Conducting of HIV/AIDS consequences in the working field and reduction of its spread,
• Struggle with stigmatization and discrimination in relation to HIV infection

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is growing into a global crisis and it is one of the most serious threats for development and social progress. This is why trade unions have to express their positions on this issue and promote the prevention of the expansion of the epidemic and to reduce its impact on workers and their families. Trade unions also have to provide social help to overcome the consequences of the illness. Trade unions’ policy on prevention of HIV/AIDS amongst trade union members, includes:

1. Recognition of the problem of HIV/AIDS at the work place.
2. Inadmissibility of discrimination.
3. Confidentiality.
4. Personal security.
5. Educational programs.
6. Breach of labor relations.
7. Care and support.

Alla Shylova – member of European Youth Forum had prepared a presentation on PSI policy on HIV/AIDS and the recommendations of young workers on HIV/AIDS.

The Chairman of the youth committee of the Central committee of Trade union of health care workers of Ukraine submitted for consideration the main targets of the “Statement about youth committee”:

1. Coordination of activities of youth councils.
2. Recruitment of youth in trade union.
3. Organising and preparing materials for trade union to distribute to young members.
4. Sharing work experience of territorial organizations with young workers.
5. Participating in presenting of positive trade union image.

For more information please contact Alla Shilova: shilova_alla@ukr.net OR violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

OHS survey in Serbia exposes weaknesses

Young activists from the Trade Union of Health and Social Care Workers in Serbia have carried out a survey among Serbian young health sector workers on occupational health and safety (OHS). The survey indicates that OHS services at the work place are poorly organised and more than 70% of respondents did not know what their rights were. The majority of workers were not informed on OHS measures concerning the use of equipment, and nearly 80% did not know the procedure for establishing a work-related injury and claiming an indemnity. The results of the survey demonstrate the shortcomings of Serbian occupational safety and health administration in the health sector.

Download full report here: www.gszsz-nezavisnost.org/english/docs/survey_report.pdf.

Increasing of the trade union motivation: problems and ways of their solving

The PSI seminar “Increasing of the trade union motivation: problems and ways of their solving”, organised by the trade union of National Ukrainian Academy of Science (NUAS) was held on 5-8 June 2006 in Caciveli, Crimea. The youth committee participated in the work of the seminar. The main objective was to analyse trade union membership, find ways and methods to deal the existing problems, increase unions’ activity, and involve young people in union work.
Taking into account the age of the employees, it is a vital task for the Academy and for the union to increase its membership with talented young workers. In this connection we have to develop our own youth trade union policy, which will consider the solving of important social and economic problems such as size of scholarship for the postgraduate students, career promotion of youth, and solving accommodation problems for young families.

For more information please contact Alla Shilova: shilova_alla@ukr.net or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org

Motivation and trade union leader image

A young workers seminar for all NEE PSI affiliates on the theme: “Motivation and trade union leader image” was held 30-31 March 2006 in Tbilisi. The aims of the seminar were to exchange experience, discuss and find solutions to young workers' problems through collective agreements. 

Four working groups discussed the main problems the young workers face:

Group 1: education, unemployment, demography, emigration. Group 2: AIDS, tuberculosis, narkomania, child labor. Group 3: trade union education, qualification of workers. Group 4: low level of social life, low level of wages, hyper employment.

The following plan of action resulted from the discussion: 

1. To involve young workers in unions, to inspire them by organising sports and cultural activities.
2. The unions’ work must be highlighted by mass media.
3. To participate in the legislative decision-making process.
4. To cooperate with international organisations in order to solve issues, which have been ignored by government.

Young representatives of PSI affiliates have created a young workers committee of 10 persons, who have to work actively on the unions’ issues and inform the EYF about current events.

For more information please contact Alla Shilova: shilova_alla@ukr.net or violaine.roggeri@world-psi.org