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Glasen Sindikat
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Strategic advocacy

Free legal assistance
Legal empowerment
Workers' rights
Strategic advocacy
Gender equality
Trade union organizing
Volunteer impact

Our programs

Strategic advocacy

From workers' experiences to changes in laws, policies, collective agreements and institutional practices.

About the program

We transform the problems that workers report on the ground into arguments, proposals and public demands for systemic changes. We participate in social dialogue, contribute to improving laws and policies, support trade union organizing and build cooperation with institutions, local authorities, unions and employers. Our advocacy is based on real cases, legal analyses and direct participation of workers.

Our goal

Let's create lasting systemic solutions that enable dignified working conditions, effective protection, and strong, independent union organizing.

What are we doing?

Specific objective 1 – Participation in social dialogue

  • Identifying and nominating representatives of "Glasen Tekstilec" in the working group.
  • Preparation of analyses and proposals based on practical cases (from employee reports, legal analyses, etc.).
  • Organizing consultative meetings with members and other unions to formulate common positions.
  • Submitting proposals and amendments to the working group.
  • Monitoring draft versions and public hearings and publishing positions through media and social networks.
  • Collecting data and testimonies about psychosocial and sexual harassment in the workplace from target groups.
  • Analysis of good practices from the EU and the region (Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria).
  • Drafting of draft provisions on definitions, procedures and obligations of employers.
  • Participation in working group meetings with labor and mental health experts.
  • Information campaign to raise awareness about the need for legal protection.
  • Initiating and submitting a formal request to the competent ministry and the Parliament to start the process.
  • Organizing meetings with MPs, experts and unions to build support.
  • Drafting a working version of the law with experts.
  • Mobilization of membership for public advocacy (petitions, public events, media promotion).
  • Submitting an initiative to the competent committee in the Parliament.
  • Identification of key directives and conventions (e.g. ILO Convention 190, Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions).
  • Establishing cooperation with the Ministry of European Affairs and the EU Delegation.
  • Preparation of parallel reports (shadow reports) for compliance with domestic laws.
  • Participation in public consultations and national forums for legislative harmonisation.
  • Training of activists on EU law in the labor sector.
  • Monitoring initiatives for new bylaws (e.g. rulebooks on minimum labor, health and safety conditions).
  • Submitting specific proposals and solutions based on field experiences.
  • Involvement in public debates and workshops organized by the Government or international organizations.
  • Providing technical assistance to institutions in formulating new solutions.
  • Promotion of new measures and policies through local and national media to increase public support.

Specific objective 2 – Trade union organizing and cooperation

  • Identifying factories/enterprises with critical mass for union organizing.
  • Organizing confidential meetings with male and female workers.
  • Legal support and information about the rights and procedure for forming a union.
  • Providing logistical support for founding meetings and leadership selection.
  • Registration of trade union organizations in the competent institutions.
  • Research into industries with low levels of unionization (hospitality, trade, service industries).
  • Mapping of interested groups and individuals in those sectors.
  • Awareness-raising and information campaigns about trade union rights.
  • Creating pilot unions and providing legal and technical support.
  • Networking of new unions into broader union networks.
  • Training program design: topics such as advocacy, collective bargaining, rights, leadership.
  • Hiring trainers (from domestic and international unions, lawyers, activists).
  • Organizing 3-4 regional trainings per year.
  • Production and distribution of manuals for union representation.
  • Monitoring and mentoring of trained field representatives.
  • A formal initiative to connect existing unions into a branch alliance.
  • Drafting the statute and organizational structures of the branch union.
  • Holding a congress or founding assembly.
  • Registration of the branch union in accordance with the legal procedure.
  • Establish a permanent secretariat/coordination office.
  • Formation of a negotiating team of trade unionists and legal experts.
  • Preparation of requests based on field analysis and the condition of the workers.
  • Conducting negotiations with employers' associations in the sector.
  • Organizing consultations with the membership to harmonize positions. Signing and promoting the new branch agreement.
  • Involvement in the national body/working group for the collective agreement.
  • Submission of union views and proposals.
  • Participation in negotiations with other branch unions and employers' organizations.
  • Promoting union positions in the media.
  • Monitoring implementation after signing the contract.
  • Signing memoranda of understanding and joint action.
  • Organizing joint workshops, public events and campaigns.
  • Participation in inter-union coalitions for advocacy and legal reforms.
  • Exchange of information and resources (manuals, legal assistance).
  • Involvement in tripartite forums and initiatives.

Specific objective 3 – Local advocacy and other cooperation

  • Initiating a dialogue with the local government on the formation of the council.
  • Identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders (employers, unions, NGOs).
  • Preparation of a draft statute and rules of procedure for the council.
  • Organizing a founding meeting and officially forming the council.
  • Organizing training for council members on the role and functions of economic and social councils.
  • Exchange of experiences with other municipalities that have functional councils.
  • Development of a work plan and priority areas of action.
  • Monitoring and evaluating the council's activities to improve its effectiveness.
  • Organizing thematic meetings to identify challenges in labor relations.
  • Presentation of good practices for improving working conditions.
  • Encouraging cooperation between employers and unions.
  • Exchange of information on legal obligations and innovations in labor legislation.
  • Regular coordination meetings to monitor the situation with workers' rights.
  • Initiating joint projects to improve working conditions.
  • Exchange of information about the needs and problems of workers in the municipality.
  • Involving municipal structures in activities to support trade union organizing.
  • Organizing regular meetings to exchange information on violations of labor rights.
  • Submission of joint reports and recommendations for improving inspection supervision.
  • Involving the inspectorate in training and awareness-raising campaigns.
  • Exchange of data on trends in labor rights violations.
  • Initiating joint inspections in risky sectors.
  • Exchange of information on health risks in the workplace.
  • Organizing training for workers on occupational health protection.
  • Preparation of joint recommendations for improving health conditions.
  • Exchange of information on undeclared work and tax fraud.
  • Organizing information sessions for workers about their tax obligations and rights.
  • Involving the Administration in awareness-raising campaigns about the formal economy.
  • Preparation of joint analyses on the impact of the shadow economy on workers' rights.
  • Organizing training for workers on recognizing and reporting discrimination.
  • Preparation of manuals and information materials on gender equality in the workplace.
  • Involving the Commission in research on the situation with discrimination.
  • Initiating joint campaigns to raise awareness about gender equality.
  • Organizing meetings to exchange information on typical violations.
  • Submitting joint recommendations to improve the decision-making process.
  • Involving the Commissions in training workers on their rights and obligations.
  • Exchange of data on trends in violations of labor rights.

„Glasen Tekstilec" is a non-profit and non-partisan association founded by textile workers and human rights activists. We fight for decent work, equality and justice.

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Contact

+389 75 316 107

info@glasentekstilec.mk

Vancho Prke 125, Shtip

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