THE PROTECTION OF UNION AND LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Tema Varstvo sindikalnih zaupnikov in delavskih predstavnikov je bila izbrana z namenom predstavitve sedanje slovenske ureditve področja zastopanja interesov in pravic delavcev s strani predstavnikov delavcev s poudarkom na zakonskem varstvu njihovega položaja zaradi opravljanja svojih nalog. V diplomski nalogi sem izhajala predvsem iz potrebe po zaščiti njihovega položaja in pristojnosti na področju zaščite in uveljavljanja delavskih interesov, ki so mnogokrat diametralno nasprotni interesom in željam njihovih delodajalcev. Zaradi navedenega je potrebno zakonsko primerno urediti položaj ter naloge in pristojnosti predstavnikov delavcev, da se omogoči uspešna, učinkovita ter pravočasna zaščita interesov in pravic delavcev v praksi. V Sloveniji je zakonsko urejen t.i. dualni sistem delavskih predstavništev, v okviru katerega zastopata pravice delavcev dve vrsti predstavnikov delavcev, in sicer sindikati oziroma s strani članov sindikatov v podjetjih izvoljeni sindikalni zaupniki, ter mlajša oblika predstavnikov delavcev — neposredno voljeni delavski predstavniki. Bistvene razlike med obema vrstama predstavnikov delavcev - poleg različnih načinov volitev oziroma imenovanja obojih — je raven delovanja kot tudi obseg nalog in pristojnosti ter metode njihovega delovanja. Prav zaradi svojih funkcij in pristojnosti, ki jih imajo oboji predstavniki delavskih interesov, je potrebna njihova ustrezna zakonska zaščita, da bi se lahko na ta način omogočila učinkovita zaščita in uveljavitev interesov ter pravic delavcev. V diplomski nalogi se tako nisem omejila le na obseg in način ureditve zakonskega varstva obeh vrst predstavnikov delavcev, temveč tudi na razloge, zaradi katerih je zakonska ureditev njihovega položaja in varstva sploh potrebna, in to so pristojnosti ter pooblastila, ki jih vsako izmed vrst predstavnikov delavcev v okviru zakonov ima. Poleg predstavitve obeh vrst delavskih predstavništev, njihovega razvoja, pristojnosti in nalog ter obsega varstva sem se dotaknila tudi vprašanja, ali in v kolikšni meri je potrebna sprememba obstoječe zakonske ureditve teh dveh vrst predstavništev delavcev. Postavlja se namreč vprašanje, ali je za učinkovito zaščito pravic delavcev res najbolje, da imajo monopol na področju uveljavljanja individualnih in kolektivnih pravic delavcev zgolj sindikati in voljeni delavski predstavniki le obrobno vlogo z dajanjem mnenj in posvetovanjem z delodajalci pri sprejemanju nekaterih njihovih odločitev v podjetjih. Glede na to, da je na mednarodni ravni prav tako urejena z določenimi mednarodnimi akti zaščita predstavnikov delavcev in z ozirom na članstvo RS v Evropski uniji ( EU ), sem predstavila tudi vsebino nekaterih temeljnih mednarodnih dokumentov kot tudi za RS glede ciljev obvezujočih direktiv EU s področja varstva predstavnikov delavcev. Z namenom preučiti morebitne prednosti in pomanjkljivosti našega sistema varstva predstavnikov delavcev pa sem v diplomski nalogi opravila tudi primerjavo njihovega položaja in varstva glede na ureditev tega področja v Nemčiji, v Veliki Britaniji ter v Združenih državah Amerike ( ZDA ).The topic Protection of Syndical Confidants and Labour Representatives was chosen with the intention of presenting present Slovenian regulation of the field of representation of the interests and rights of workers from the side of representatives of workers with the emphasis on legal protection of their status for performing their assingments. In my thesis I derived especially from the need to protect their position and competences on the field of protection and enforcement of labour interests that are many times diametrically reverse to the interests and wishes of their employers. Because of what I listed above it is necessary suitably legally regulate the position, tasks and competences of the representatives of workers in a way that enables successful, efficient and timely protection of the interests and rights of workers in practice. In Slovenia there is a so called dual system of labour representations legally regulated in the context of which the rights of workers are being represented by two types of representatives of workers, namely unions ( syndicates ) or from the side of members of unions elected union ( syndical ) confidants and a younger form of representatives of workers – directly elected labour representatives. Essential differences between both types of representatives of workers – besides different manners of election or of appointment of both – are the level of their activity as well as the extension of their tasks and competences and methods of their activities. Because of the functions and competences that both representatives of labour interests have, their suitable legal protection is necessary so that efficient protection of the interests and rights of workers could be enabled in this way. In my thesis I did not restrict myself only on the extent and manner of regulation of legal protection of both types of representatives of workers, but also on reasons for which legal regulation of their position and protection is necessary at all and these are competences and authorizations , which each of the two types of representatives of workers in the context of laws have. Beside presentation of both types of representatives of workers, of their development, competences and obligations and the extent of their protection I concerned myself also with the question whether and in how much extent changes of the existing legal regulation of both types of representations of workers are needed. Question that is being posed is whether it is truely best for efficient protection of rights of workers that on the field of enforcement of individual and collective rights of workers only unions have monopoly and voted labour representatives only peripheral role with giving of opinions and consultations with employers with accepting some of their decisions in companies. Considering that protection of representatives of workers is arranged on international level with certain international instruments and with the regard on membership of Republic of Slovenia in European Union ( EU ), I introduced also content of some of the fundamental international documents as well as for Republic of Slovenia in terms of goals binding directives from field of protection of representatives of workers. With the intention to study eventual advantages and deficiencies of our system of protection of representatives of workers I also completed the comparison of their position and protection according to regulation of this field in Germany, in Great Britain and in United States of America ( USA ) in my thesis