Learning to Fight Smart: Organizing for Better Workers’ Rights

Last week in Zagreb, the first training session was held for trade unionists who want to take a more active role in their unions and, consequently, in the broader struggle for workers’ rights.

The training took place as part of the project Atypical IV: Building Resilience for the Future – Union Challenges and Atypical Work in the Media, Arts & Entertainment Sector.

The project is implemented by the International Federation of Actors, the International Federation of Musicians, the European Federation of Journalists, and UNI Global Union Europa (Media, Entertainment and Arts).

One of the activities within the project includes training sessions on union organizing for members of the unions affiliated with these federations. An experienced trainer, Becky Wright from the organization Unions 21, came to Zagreb to lead the session.

Over two intensive days, participants engaged in an open and honest discussion about what trade unions are, how they should serve their members, what workers expect from them today, and whether those expectations are realistic.

In the spirit of trade union solidarity, a representative from the Union of Education, Media and Culture (SOMK) also took part in the workshop — Bojan Mrđenović, a union representative from their newly formed branch of audiovisual workers. Trade Union of Croatian Journalists closely collaborates with SOMK in advocating for workers’ rights in the media, culture, and creative industries sectors.

Did we choose the hardest sector to fight in? The answer is yes! These sectors are largely characterized by precarious freelance work, with workers left exposed and without the basic protections that regular employment contracts can provide — however limited those may be.

That’s why the guiding theme of this training was the organization and fight for the rights of atypical workers.

“In short: it was fantastic! We received a structured overview of union work step by step — from laying the groundwork through membership building all the way to further development through targeted and well-thought-out activities. All of it was highly interactive, with group and pair work, enriched by countless real-life examples and anecdotes shared by workshop leader Becky Wright.

Becky didn’t waver even under the avalanche of our questions and doubts during the post-workshop gathering, where we also gained a wealth of information and ideas. The training continues on an online platform — and everything we learn, we plan to put into practice,” said Sandra Mlađenović, the SNH union representative for the audiovisual translators’ branch.

If you’d like to get more actively involved in union work or join the online part of the training, feel free to contact our member Zoran Pehar at [zoranpehar@gmail.com].

Photos: Bojan Mrđenović, Zoran Pehar

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