INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN LUKOIL

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Yesterday an international scientific and practical conference titled Social Policy, Labor Relations and Strategy of Labor Unions in Transnational Companies was held in OAO LUKOIL Head Office.

In his speech Vagit Alekperov, President of OAO LUKOIL, underlined that a new global relationship pattern between the employee and employer is undergoing development. Over the XX century these two groups have been confronting each other seeking to defend their interests. Today they have joined their efforts to attain a common objective, which is sustainable development.

Competitive advantages of the XXI century are no longer the means of production. Nowadays they refer to intellectual and creative employee potential. Vagit Alekperov emphasized that the Company’s success depends on its efficiency in opening it up to the fullest.

Another important factor of successful Company development in today’s business environment is public trust. Losing such trust results in competitive defeat. In this regard, trade unions are the most significant instrument in business to public negotiations. Moreover, their role is growing continuously.

Georgy Kiradiev, Chairman of Council for International Association of LUKOIL Trade Union Organizations (MOPO Council) pointed out that the conference date was not a random choice. This year Russian Trade Unions celebrate their 100-year anniversary while the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (Russia) celebrates its 15-year anniversary. Neftegazstroyprofsoyuz of the Russian Federation is also celebrating its anniversary, LUKOIL trade union organization is one of its constituent members.

According to Georgy Kiradiev, the conference was aimed mainly at assessment of social innovations in transnational companies, searching best social policy mechanisms and defining the role trade unions are currently playing while providing guarantees for employee social and labor rights.

MOPO LUKOIL includes over 184 thousand trade union members and over 91% Company employees. 25 joint and 364 primary trade union organizations work in 37 Russian regions, as well as in Azerbaijan, the Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.

MOPO has signed a global agreement on cooperation with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).