EPOC Network holds first closed session in Timisoara
Lead organisers from across Europe met in Romania in September to discuss the challenges facing UNI Europa affiliates in building stronger trades unions.
This first closed session of the EPOC Network was in-person only and provided a platform for organising directors and lead organisers to discuss in detail the challenges they face in establishing and consolidating organising and trade union renewal practices, on a peer-to-peer basis. The session included representatives from both UNI organising centres in Europe — COZZ and UNI SEEOC, with the latter hosting the event — as well as affiliates from Finland, Ireland, Norway, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.
Over two days, participants exchanged on practical experiences in the steps that their union can take to increase their sectoral power in relation to membership, activist density and delivering for members at the bargaining table. They were also able to detail specific campaigns that each of our unions are currently engaged in and identify opportunities for practical solidarity across national boundaries.
The event concluded with a decision to establish EPOC Network Closed Sessions as a regular and ongoing format.
“This meeting in Timisoara, at the HQ of UNI SEEOC and SITT was a real first for EPOC Network,” said Ben Egan, Organising Director at UNI Europa. “This closed, invitation-only format with experienced union organising leads has provided the exact platform that was needed to have informed and in-depth discussions around renewing our unions and building for better collective bargaining in our sectors. In addition, there was a joint commitment to identify ways to practically support each unions’ work with real, practical transnational solidarity. Everybody really valued the exchange and we are already planning the next session.”
EPOC Network was established in 2020 to bring together unions who involved in UNI Europa’s organising work. This means either EPOC, which is our flagship programme for supporting affiliated unions to renew and improve their organising and collective bargaining strategies and practices, or the organising centres COZZ and UNI SEEOC. Initially, EPOC Network took the form of online presentations of successful campaigns but has now expanded to involve both open and closed in person sessions as well as development programmes for lead organisers from unions active in the network.
To find out more about EPOC and EPOC Network please contact UNI Europa organising director Ben Egan.
