Expropriation of Albanian Trade Unions' Property

On 19 August 2009 the Albanian President Sali Berisha announced to the national media, that the government will pass a bill in parliament to sequester all properties of Albanian trade unions. Mr. Berisha promised that he would push the Bill through within three months.Let us bear in mind that this is not the first time that trade unionism suffers discrimination. Trade unions in Albania have suffered continued discrimination from the national government in recent years. On 1 August 2007, both of Albania ’s Trade Union Confederations, the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania (BSPSH) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania (KSSH), were expelled from their headquarters and prohibited from exercising their normal activity. All property and documents inside the offices were destroyed by the Albanian police. The threat of expropriation and police occupation of trade union premises has been continuous for many years. Since July 2006, the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) has called on the prime minister to start a dialogue with the Albanian trade union movement, in order to find a solution safeguarding the continuity of the social dialogue in Albania .