Bastun - Baltic Sea Trade Union Network

 
The Baltic Sea Strategy for Fair and Functional Labour Markets

The Baltic Sea Strategy will be built upon four action-oriented objectives: to make the region environmentally sustainable, prosperous, accessible and attractive, and safe and secure.

The aim of the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network (BASTUN) is to make sure that the voice and views of the workers are also heard in the preparation of the Baltic Sea Strategy.




 
With regard to the Baltic Sea Strategy, the trade unions underline the following issues:  

  • The Baltic Sea Strategy should be instrumental in ensuring fair and well-functioning labour markets.
  • The Baltic Sea Region should be a model for the rest of Europe in terms of sustainable labour markets and labour policies.
  • The social dimension should be incorporated in all policy areas and included into the Baltic Sea Strategy.
  • Competition in wages and working conditions provides no relative advantage, but can instead harm economies, societies, employers, employees and the environment.
  • The quality of the labour markets should be levelled upwards rather than downwards in the integration process of the Baltic Sea Region.
  • Clear and respected labour regulations help to avoid labour conflicts.
  • Growth and competitiveness depend on several issues, including respect for core labour rights. Decent working conditions, wages, social security and stability should be seen as an important aspect of the competitiveness of the whole Baltic Sea Region.
  • Social dumping can affect the willingness to move to work in another country negatively as well as the readiness of domestic workers to welcome labour from other countries.
  • Social dialogue is a constructive element in building a European Social model. It should also be extended to EU-Russia relations, where it should be an important element.
  • The Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN) is a joint project which brings together politicians, social partners and researchers across the Baltic Sea Region. The project aims at making the Baltic Sea Region a European model for interregional labour policy. The BSLN is a tool for implementation and it should be seen as a priority project in connection with the Baltic Sea Strategy.