Caption 1. Participants on the meeting
In the period from 8-9 June 2016, in Bratislava, Slovakia a meeting for communications officers from NIS and SEE affiliates was held, attended by representatives from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, representatives from the offices of ITUC PERC Sarajevo, Moscow and Brussels, as well as representative of EPSU, who had their presentations in the area of trade unions and the Internet, creating strategies, campaigns, tools and social networks.
The main topic that was discussed at the meeting was communication as a main tool in promoting and managing of TU image, its success, transparency and visibility. The participants of the meeting had fruitful discussions on the abovementioned topics. A special focus was put on the internal communication as an engine for TU efficiency. During the group work participants discussed issues regarding the communication process, its building, dissemination, networking, advantages and disadvantages.
What was emphasized and presented by the participants were the positive and negative aspects of the communication process as well as the disadvantages and difficulties faced by the unions from these countries, the lack of internal and external communication and the problem in the flow of information.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia was presented as an example of good practice and well-established network and communication strategy, a federation that regularly prepares timely reports and covers information related to relevant events and activities through its website and monthly newsletter. In this direction the new website of CCM was presented.
At the end of the meeting certain conclusions were adopted, including the need for further education and training in the field of communication and PR, regular meetings of the working group, as well as continued assistance and support from the ITUC PERC and other international organizations in terms of communication, implementation of specific campaigns, publications etc.
