TRADE UNIONS REFUSE "EXCLUSIVE" AGREEMENT WITH SMER

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 001044

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB LO
SUBJECT: TRADE UNIONS REFUSE "EXCLUSIVE" AGREEMENT WITH SMER

Sensitive but Unclassified - protect accordingly


1. (U) Summary. Delegates to the Fifth KOZ Congress on November
12 and 13 rejected a proposed agreement with the opposition party
Smer for closer cooperation on common goals. The tone of the
program was extremely critical of the government and a high-
ranking GOS official's address received boos and hollers from the
participants. The delegates re-elected the KOZ leadership that
has been at loggerheads with the government, which led to the
recent repeal of the Tripartite Law. End Summary.

KOZ Delegates Refuse Smer Agreement
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2. (U) On November 12 and 13, the Confederation of Trade Unions
(KOZ),a federation of unions from various industries, held its
fifth congress to elect its executive board and discuss future
initiatives. Although the Chairman of the opposition party Smer
("Direction") Robert Fico met with great applause at the
congress, the delegates declined to support a proposed
cooperation agreement. Members voted to continue working with
Smer, but not at the exclusion of other parties with similar
platforms. Participants also recalled the suspended relations
between a single political party and KOZ during the Meciar era.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, HZDS leader Viliam Veteska, and
Communist Party (KSS) Chairman Jozef Svec were also in
attendance.

Saktor Maintains Leadership of KOZ
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3. (U) KOZ President Ivan Saktor, who ran unopposed for re-
election, retained the leadership of KOZ even though the
confederation suffered several failures under his watch. Over
the past several years, KOZ has lost nearly 300,000 members. The
organization spearheaded a signature drive for the April 2004
referendum on early elections, which failed due to lack of voter
participation. The government repealed the Tripartite Law,
removing KOZ's status as a partner in social dialogue, stating
that the political nature of the confederation and its heightened
criticism of the GOS reform program hindered the tripartite
process. Saktor's close collaboration with Smer leader Robert
Fico may have hastened the government's decision.

KOZ Leadership Calls for Revenge
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4. (SBU) The congress featured an unbalanced film about protest
activities and events since the last congress that was highly
critical of the government. The movie was accompanied by an
appeal from Saktor for "vengeance, revenge, and payback" because
of the negative impact of reforms on workers and unfulfilled
governmental promises. When PM Dzurinda appeared on the screen,
delegates of the congress booed and whistled. The president of
the Association of Town and Villages (ZMOS) Michael Sykora told
poloffs that KOZ has made a big mistake in vehemently attacking
the government and putting in place more obstacles to future
cooperation.


5. (U) Education State Secretary Frantisek Toth, one of the few
government officials present, asked to address the wound-up
crowd. He stated that he disagreed with some KOZ policies, but
stressed that a dialogue needs two partners. Toth stated, "It is
important to teach those who are hungry how to catch a fish,
rather than let them simply protest that they are hungry." The
public booed his speech and loud applause forced him to hastily
conclude his comments. KOZ President Saktor noted the courage he
displayed in making a presentation to this audience.


6. (SBU) Comment: The KOZ gathering did little to dispel the GOS
impression that KOZ has become more of a political organization
than one truly representing workers' rights. Smer might be
disappointed at the missed opportunity for "exclusive" support
from the labor unions, especially after having cooperated closely
on the signature drive for early elections early in 2004.
However, with KOZ membership falling rapidly, the organization
would certainly lose members loyal to other opposition parties if
it did not keep those doors open.

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