The right of a worker union to claim better pay and working conditions for its members is both legitimate and obvious. However, the solidarity towards other employees – and much more those who have lost their jobs – should be just as obvious. Otherwise, the unionism ends up representing narrow corporate interests, so that it ends up operating outside of society, without its tolerance and support, thus losing the legitimization of its claims.
The agreement signed between employee union GENOP and the management of DEI and the reactions it caused demonstrate that it does not take into consideration the country’s present situation, nor the conditions under which other categories of employees and the unemployed of the private sector. Because while a portion of DEI employees truly work under difficult conditions, but despite the wage and benefit cuts they are still in a better situation that the majority of their colleagues in the private sector.
After all, it is a fact that thousands in the private sector lost their job because their businesses could not bare the brunt of the energy cost. The GENOP unionists and DEI management should have carefully balanced the social cost of their agreement before they signed it. They should have considered that the funds, which may not significantly improve the quality of life of DEI employees, could have given a breath to the thousands of unemployed, who agonize over their daily survival.
The country’s present situation demands that social solidarity prevails over any claims. We must think beyond our narrow interests and consider the needs of the person next to us. Because what little we can claim may be far more valuable and necessary for others. The unionists should consider this and more so DEI’s management, which is funded by all citizens, whether they work or not.
TO VIMA
