An international conference “Confidence in Labor Relations – Mission Possible” took place on June 17 in Vilnius, in a hotel “Neringa”. The conference was the final event of the SociaLTy project.
There was a diverse set of speakers who represented different perspectives and engaged the audience in interesting discussions.
A representative of the Norwegian Trade Union Confederation LO Yanina Unli presented the trust-based labour relations model of Norway. She was followed by a general director of a company “Vilniaus viešasis transportas” (Vilnius public transport). Darius Aleknavičius talked about the situation in his led company and told in what ways he supported the enhancement of working conditions in “Vilnius viešasis transportas”. D.Aleknavičius did not shy away from criticising the trade unions established in the company and accused them of an alleged “ultimacy and unsatisfactory constructiveness”, raising problems publicly what “harms the reputation” of his led company.
A presentation “Social dialogue in Lithuania – what direction are we choosing?” was presented by the head of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences prof. Boguslavas Gruževskis. According to him, the social dialogue is not only about working conditions, wages or the well-being of employees. Also, it is closely related to higher satisfaction of employees, higher efficiency, prevention of abuses and ensuring democracy, peace and freedom in a broader sense.
In the second part of the conference Inga Ruginienė, president of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, and Ričardas Sartatavičius, general director of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, signed the “Agreement on strengthening social dialogue” and its accompanying appendix “Guidelines for the conclusion of collective agreements”.
The conference was finished with a discussion “Can the consensus be reached in Lithuania?”. Its panellists were Dalia Jakutavičė, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation, Odeta Zubrienė, personnel manager of Litgrid AB, Raimondas Tamošauskas, chairman of the Lithuanian Food Trade Union, Šarūnas Orlavičius, chancellor of the State Labour Inspectorate.
You may find the recording of the conference here: