Photo: USAID/Macedonia
“We are very proud of our
activities… in the Balkans. We are
the only multi-ethnic trade union.”
- Dojcin Cvetanovski, SONK
President
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Initiative
In 2001, delegates of SONK elected a new
leader, Dojcin Cvetanovski, who promised to
rebuild the trade union movement in
Macedonia. USAID, with the American
Center for International Labor Solidarity,
brought in experts from the American
Federation of Teachers to assist
Cvetanovski in shaping a new policy of
ethnic inclusion for the trade unions.
SONK started with union leadership training
programs focused on skills development,
inclusion, and tolerance. SONK translated
its membership cards and constitution into
Albanian - trade union materials had never
before been translated into a minority
language. SONK created a vice president
position and elected Muzafere Sinani, a
female ethnic Albanian. She is now a
volunteer instructor in union workshops, and
is active with the Federation of Trade Unions
of Macedonia in the women’s section.
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Results
SONK is now the largest branch union in the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia.
Over 100 local leaders of different ethnic backgrounds in Macedonia have participated in
the program. SONK’s policies supporting diversity have helped the union grow from 16,000
to almost 37,000 members, including 5,000 ethnic Albanians, while other unions continue to
lose members. Two more ethnic Albanian women have been elected president of their
union locals. Cvetanovski and Sinani regularly visit Albanian and Macedonian schools in
villages surrounding ethnically mixed towns such as Tetovo, Gostivar and Arachinovo
where ethnic tensions can still be felt. SONK, along with Cvetanovski and Sinani, have
earned the respect of union leaders. SONK has been invited to host the first conference,
since the Kosovo war, where the leaders from the Albanian and Serbian education
unions in Kosovo can share experiences and discuss future cooperation.
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