Description
The main project objective is to enhance social dialogue and competence in municipality offices and in municipal units and enterprises. This will be achieved through the creation of a platform for information exchange and communication, which will help identify existing best practices on social dialogue in the municipal sector. This platform will increase knowledge on social dialogue as perceived by the project participants. There will also be an exchange of experience between Polish and Norwegian participants. The project will target the civil servants/municipality administration staff and representatives of what are widely understood as communal enterprises in Poland, including trade union members. The partnership with Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (Norway) will contribute to the enhancement of knowledge on social dialogue and the importance of developing a tripartite dialogue on national level. The project is needed because of a general lack of understanding about the tripartite dialogue in Poland.
Summary of project results
In 2012-2013 the level of social dialogue in Poland did not meet the expectations of social partners. Research and recommendations from the Polish Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs showed a need to enhance employers' and employees' knowledge and skills on social dialogue. Social partners did not use all opportunities given by social dialogue due to lack of capacity in adjusting to new socioeconomic conditions. Social dialogue was especially important in companies which went through a restructuring process to prevent discrimination of employees, in particular women. The same challenges were found in municipal offices and enterprises. All this phenomena created a need to enhance the knowledge of the economic, social and legal situation of both sides and acquired skills of effective communication and problem solving (e.g. negotiation and mediation) within municipalities and its various enterprises (employers and employees). Equally important in the process of mutual learning was identification and dissemination of existing good practices concerning trust building, respect, social responsibility and fostering the motivation of employees to deliver high-quality public services.The key target group consisted of representatives of all Polish municipal employers as well as representatives of employees and trade unions. More than 300 persons took part in ten regional seminars. On the basis of evaluation questionnaires more than 93% of participants that stated their knowledge in this area has increased. They consider improvement of social dialogues at the level of municipal offices and enterprises as a powerful tool to increase the quality of municipal services, i.e. by improving the working environment, relations and communication at the work-place etc. By provision of 29 best practices, the municipalities proved that they are open and eager to participate.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian Association of Local And Regional Authorities (KS) and the project promoter has been cooperating for many years. KS role was essential for the project, bringing competence and experience. The partnership has contributed to the enhancement of knowledge on social dialogue. The project promoter was not able to implement in the Polish conditions the model of the Norwegian municipal employment policy, or the Norwegian public statistics system, which provides very precise information about everything that happens within the labor market and municipal services market. However, the Association of Polish Cities was able to produce, the first time in history of local governments in Poland report on employment that covers widely understand municipal sector, limited not only to administrative staff but covered also social workers, teachers, municipal police, kindergarten teachers, librarian , communal services staff etc.