DECLARATION
In connection with the sharp increase of the social tension in MoI during the last months and as a result of non-kept promise for changes, TUFEMI gives a deadline to the government up to the middle of October 2010 to start real actions for solving the accumulated problems in MoI. In case our request is not satisfied we shall take effective protest actions according to the law. As from the present moment TUFEMI is in effective protest readiness. TUFEMI keeps its will for participation only in an effective social dialogue. We call for all citizens, organizations and institutions to support our just demands.
Stop the lies, we want security!
04.10.2010
Managing board of TUFEMI
LETTER
Dear Mr. Premier Borisov,
We appeal to you as a long-standing employee of the Ministry of Interior, perfectly familiar with the problems of employees in the system and therefore ownership sempathy to our needs as we meet misunderstanding and reluctance to real dialogue and change by the leadership of the Ministry.
Unfortunately, one year after the first protests in our history, to officials of the Interior Ministry, led to the creation of a federation of trade union, the situation of employees in the ministry continues to deteriorate
As a major problem in the Interior Ministry continues to stand the double standard that applies to employees and even entire structural units, depending on proximity to a managerial employee. This problem continues to set targets populations disadvantaged, leading to neglected or even the rejection of the issues raised by them and restricting or depriving them of basic resources to carry out their duties
The financial crisis has become a convenient tool for the management of the Ministry of Interior to divert uncomfortable questions about the lack of material-technical base and financial resource provision on the ground "no money".
The huge resource issues facing the Ministry of Interior from a long time became a daily, almost insurmountable obstacle to the implementation of the basic activities related to the immediate investigation and detection of crime, protection and preservation of public order and administrative services to citizens, which directly affects the quality decline the work of employees and increases the feeling of insecurity in the vast majority of Bulgarian citizens
In the same time there isn’t a tendency to improve anything about the situation of employees in the Ministry of Interior, on the contrary - there is clear evidence even to significantly reduce the additional payment of employees accepted in the latest amendments to the relevant internal regulations of the ministry.
The new political and professional leadership declared willingness on the part of the Interior for dialogue and collaboration with trade unions to resolve issues raised by TUFEMI gave us brief hope that the change in MI can become a reality. The formal request for dialogue and collaboration by the Ministry of Interior to solve the social and professional problems of employees strengthens the belief among members that this form of communication with the leadership of the Ministry are ineffective and futile.
The professional and socio-economic status of employees makes matters worse, there are no indications of increasing our social status and prestige, which further discourages us.
By MI has become a practice to put pressure on trade union members in terms of unjustified inspections, penalties, displacements, and termination of service, especially at present it is strongly manifested in The main department “Combating Organized Crime“ /GD Bop/ and other directorates.
The uncoordinated attempts continue to change the archaic and contradictory rules in MI.
The leadership of the Ministry of Interior continues to implement the established policy of opacity and eclipse information to its employees about the future reforms.
The request which we put a year ago- to improve the material and technical base and financial resource provision in the Interior Ministry, has not been satisfied
Our demands for increased salaries, wages and labor accounted for under the Labor Code and Civil Service Law, and improvements in material living conditions of employment are not fulfilled.
There is a subjective attitude about the payment of the overtime work of the employees, as well as the payment of the specific working conditions.
Last but not least is the expressed reluctance of the political leadership of the Interior to negotiate with the Board of TUFEMI who has been elected and enjoys the support of the vast majority of employees in TUFEMI.
Some of the 6 requests that we set a year ago to the management of MI, were formally fulfilled and therefore did not lead to significant changes for employees in the Ministry. Therefore, we insist on fulfilling the following demands:
1. The leadership of the Ministry of Interior to initiate a genuine and effective dialogue with TUFEMI to solve the problems raised by us, by accepting TUFEMI for equal and full partner.
2. The practice of applying double standards to the Ministry of Interior officials to be stopped, while taking action against officers and their claims to proceed from objective facts and legal grounds.
3. The subjective and unreasonable reassignment of personnel from one structural unit to another to be stopped, especially in the case of many such cases, as in The main department “Combating Organized Crime“ /GD Bop/
4. To begin active implementation of the set in the Criminal Code, Criminal Process. Code, and Law MI, measures to protect employees of the MI
5. To undertake an immediate change in Chapter XX of Law MI, as it must be included functional immunity of trade union members involved in union leaderships and the governing bodies of TUFEMI under Art. 333, para. 3 from Labor Code.
6. To improve material-technical and financial - resources ensuring the activities of employees of the Interior in accordance with their functional responsibilities within 2 months. By the Minister of Interior to provide specific and publicly announced program for the upcoming action in these areas of activity within 1 month.
7. Overtime work / including weekends and holidays and during public holidays / made night work of staff and time available to be reported and paid in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code and the Law on Civil Servants and to terminate the current state of discriminatory treatment against Ministry of Interior officials in this regard.
8. To increase funds for outfit and equipment for uniformed officers to comply with EU standards in this area and the means for food to increase twofold.
9. To increase the basic salary of employees and workers in the Interior Ministry as the basis for its calculation is subject to a gross average wage in the country.
10. Produce a new collective agreement for individuals working under labor contracts in the Interior Ministry, in which TUFEMI participates with the other trade unions.
11. To maintain the existing regulations in respect of benefits received by employees leaving the Interior and upon retirement, such benefits be paid within 45 days after termination of employment or business relationships.
Mr. Prime Minister, we strongly ask for an urgent meeting with you in view of the worsening situation in MI, many urgent problems and our wish to resolve the existing ones in a spirit of partnership and in favor of the Bulgarian citizens.
We believe that solving the problems raised by us will enhance the status of employees in the Ministry of Interior and would improve the conditions which are set out in Law MI goals and objectives will be in the interest of society as a whole and the other Member States of the European Union. Otherwise, the increasing discouragement of the staff and lack of elementary conditions for carrying out the duties would lead to even greater problems in achieving the objectives and tasks assigned to the MI.
In case if you do not get serious guarantees to solve the raised problems, we reserve the right to take all steps about the protection of professional and social interests of our members, including to seek for solution to problems in court and the Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and to put their claims before the competent authorities of the European Union, to ask for assistance from police trade union related organizations and to organize all forms of protest, which we are entitled by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Bulgaria..
February 7, 2010
Sofia
Sincerely,
Board of TUFEMI
HISTORY
Police protest activities
Since December 2008, police officers in Bulgaria have held several meetings to discuss how to pursue their demands for a 50% pay increase and improved working conditions. As police officers are by law banned from taking part in strike action and can only take part in protests when off duty, they organised demonstrations in the form of a meeting or silent protest. For the first time, the protest was organised through an internet forum. The first meeting, held on 13 December 2008, was attended by about 3,000 police officers from across Bulgaria who dressed in civilian clothes and gathered in a park near the offices of the Ministry of Interior. During the second meeting, on 17 January 2009, the protesters drank water and stood with their hands in their pockets as a form of silent protest. The protesting officers highlighted, in particular, their ‘extremely bad working conditions’ and inadequate work uniforms, which they insist are insufficient for the cold winter months.
Main demands
The police officers handed a list of demands to Bulgaria’s Deputy Interior Minister, Sonya Yankulova. The list outlines six key demands, which call on the government to:
• amend the country’s Ministry of Interior Act;
• amend the Penal Code to provide for quick and uncompromising punishment of those who attack police officers;
• increase police officers’ wages by 50% and provide more modern technical equipment;
• provide for better work clothes and food for officers, along with increased fuel consumption quotas for police vehicles.
Government reaction
Bulgaria’s Interior Minister, Mihail Mikov, indicated that he already had sufficient contact with police officers in relation to discussing possible ways for increasing remuneration in line with the results achieved, but not as much contact with the rank in the MoI. Despite his assurances, the 2009 budget for the MoI does not encompass a pay increase.
We use internet forum to organise new trade union
Since December 2008, police officers have been lobbying for a pay rise and an improvement in their working conditions. Intensive discussions have been held on an internet forum on the need to establish a new trade union to protect the labour interests of members of the police force. The new Trade Union Federation of Employees /TUFEMI/ in the Ministry of Interior was set up on 15 February 2009 in the city of Stara Zagora.
Legislation on right of association in Ministry of Interior
The right of employees at the Ministry of Interior to trade union association is guaranteed by law, albeit with certain necessary limitations due to the public service nature of their work. According to the Interior Ministry Act, its employees may form their trade union organisation with the purpose of providing assistance to affiliate members and protecting their professional, social and economic rights. However, MoI employees cannot be members of other trade unions or accept in their trade union organisations representatives of workers outside the ministry. Furthermore, their trade union does not have the right to join or participate in national trade union confederations.
Bulgarian legislation aims to avoid any attempts by the trade union organisations to intervene in the management of MVR; the unions are expected to protect the interests of their members without interfering with the ministry’s management.
New trade union organisation
Trade Union Federation of Employees in the Ministry of Interior (TUFEMI)
Independently organised police officers have become known as ‘forum policemen’, due to their use of an internet forum to discuss issues and organise protest actions .The police officers have held several meetings since December 2008 to discuss how to pursue their demands for a 50% pay increase and improved working conditions .
The management of MoI asked the protesting police officers to appoint a contact group with which the management could negotiate.
The meeting on 14 January 2009 in the northcentral town of Gabrovo was organised through an internet forum and it was attended by representatives of the various MoI departments. A contact group for negotiations with MoI was also appointed. On 17 January 2009, the contact group put forward a number of proposals, some of which concerned amendments to the Interior Ministry Act and the Penal Code, as well as the provision of more modern technical equipment and higher wages. The proposals were followed by a new wave of discussions on the police internet forum and culminated with the decision to set up a new trade union organisation. On 15 February 2009, the Trade Union Federation of Employees in the Ministry of Interior (TUFEMI) was established in the central city of Stara Zagora. On 26 February 2009 , the documents of the new trade union organisation were put forward for registration. As of April 2009, the police protests continue.
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