President of the Republic

Conseil Européen des Syndicats de Police

Organisation Internationale Non Gouvernementale au Conseil de l’Europe
RE: SEC. GEN. N°159/2014 Lyons April 16th, 2014
Subject: situation of the Albanian Police

Mr. President of the Republic,

 

The European Council of Police Unions (CESP) is an international non-governmental organization, sitting at the Council of Europe, whose members are Police Associations and Unions of 20 European Countries. Its objective is to defend the interests and the rights, namely social rights, of its members, using all the means that Law, Collective agreements and dialogue provide.
Secretary – General of CESP, I solicit you today concerning the situation of the Police forces in Albania, specifically the unionized Police forces and their representatives.
I have been indeed seized by our member the Sindikata Punonjesve te Policise Shtetit (SPP SH) regarding several violations of collective agreement organizing relations between the Police Unions and their Direction, namely Mr. Arta DIDI, new General Director of Albanian Police.
These violations are the following ones:
– Dismissal of over 350 Police employees by the Direction of the Police and the Minister of the Interior without any negotiation with the unions, the only reason being « organization change », in violation of point 11 of the last paragraph of collective agreements of Albanian Police.
– Dismissal of union representatives without any negotiation, in violation of 12 point 7 of collective agreements of Albanian Police and of article 184 point 5 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Albania.
So far, the Courts often ruled in favour of our colleagues, with an important limit: despite the fact some of our colleagues have received compensations, they haven’t been reintegrated in their positions.
Mr. Bujar NISHANI
President of the Republic of Albania
Numerous cases are still under study and submitted to the Albanian Courts. Lawyers and Ombudsmen consider this painful question of a body that must defend the Inner security if its country, while feeling sometimes unsupported, even neglected by its authorities.
Previously, an important work has been done, in mutual understanding between the Direction of the State Police and the Police Unions, including the redaction of the Study Report writing, related on the financial treatment of Police employees. On this occasion, the CESP collaborated with ICITAP and PAMECA. This Report has led to a significant improvement of the wages of Police lower and intermediate grades employees. This experience made us acutely aware on the Albanian Police reorganization and allows us to hope today a positive answer to our interpellation.
CESP follows with the utmost attention the progress of this case, and will inform the European and international authorities, especially in the framework of special procedures for the examination in the International Labour organization of complaints alleging violations of Freedom of Associations.
Mr. President, you embody a real change for this democracy that is Albania, your country having signed the European Social Charter. I would ask you to consider with great care your Police employees and their union representatives ‘situation, as guarantors of Inner security, without which reforms cannot occur in optimal conditions.
Looking forward to reading you on this important subject, permit me, Mr. President of the Republic, to assure you of my highest esteem.
Gérard GRENERON
Secrétaire Général du CESP