1. Latvian Commercial workers’ Trade Union ECONOMICAL SITUATION IN LATVIA SOCIAL DIALOUGE AND TRADE UNIONS IN LATVIA
Torino, 22 of March, ITC ILO

2. MAIN INDICATORS Average monthly wages of employees
LVL=431 EUR
LVL=567 EUR
LVL=684 EUR
Minimal monthly wages
LVL=129 EUR
LVL=171 EUR
LVL=229 EUR
LVL=257 EUR

3. MAIN INDICATORS Minimal consumer basket 2006 117 LVL=167 EUR

4. MAIN INDICATORS
Rate of unemployed persons to the total number of economically active population
,8%
,0%
,5%

5. MAIN INDICATORS Age of pension males 62 years females 62 years
Average monthly pension
LVL=137 EUR
LVL=159 EUR

6. FREE TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION OF LATVIA / LBAS/
Founded in 1990
The biggest non-governmental organization in Latvia protecting workers’ rights and interests
Only Trade Union Confederation on national level in Latvia
Unites members or ~more than 15% of all employees of country
20 affiliated organizations

7. FREE TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION OF LATVIA / LBAS/
Financed by members’ fees
Each member pays to the respective TU 1% of gross salary
LBAS receives 3% from all collected members’ fees of affiliate organizations

8. FREE TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION OF LATVIA / LBAS/
LBAS represents the interests of its members in:
National Tripartite Council and its Sub-councils
State and municipal institutions
courts

9. Latvian Commercial workers’ Trade Union
Founded in 1990
Membership
Affiliate of LBAS
Affiliate of UNI and UNI Europa
International cooperation with Baltic and Nordic TU

10. Latvian Commercial workers’ Trade Union
ACTION PRIORITIES
Social dialogue
on sectoral level – agreement with Latvian Commercial employees’ Asociation
on company level – collective agreements
Training
Legal aid
New services for members
New members recruitment

11. Problems
Middle -aged people have bad memories from previous TU results
Negative covert attitude from a lot of employers
People individualism and passivity
Undesire to tear away finances as member fees from poor families budget

12. Strategic orientations and practices for recruitment
Existing of data basis of retail companies with large number of potential members
Meetings with employers and employees in interested companies
Distribution of advertisement materials in different ways / in shopping centres etc./
Choice of suitable agitators and contact persons in interested companies
Involvement of individual members in TU
Training of young members

13. Best practice. Growth of membership in Nordic company RIMI/ICA

14. Best practice. Growth of involved shops in Nordic company RIMI/ICA

15. Trade Union circle Trade Union More members More finances
More services

16. Latvian Commercial Workers’ Trade Union
Thank You
MARTINS MERTENS
Latvian Commercial Workers’ Trade Union