INTRODUCTION
The Ruben Rolo Institute (IRR) was established in 1998.
Since then it has developed research and training activities in the area of labour relations.
Trade-unionists from all over the world and specialized researchers in the areas of economy, sociology and labor law cooperate in the initiatives of the Institute.
The main partner of the Institute in the national and international symposiums that it organizes since its foundation is the representation of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Portugal.
The Ruben Rolo Institute aim is to contribute with its research and its public debates to the social and political debate in the Portuguese trade unions, involving unionists, politicians and academics from different national and political backgrounds.
A central issue in this work is the relation between globalization and labour relations in Europe and Portugal.
The principles that guide the work of the Ruben Rolo Institute are:
- Pluralism: We consider the diversity of positions in our initiatives essential for a productive work to provide innovative answers to recent problems of unionism.
- Freedom of opinion: We defend and we practice a culture of freedom of opinion in our debates, in order to permit that everyone is allowed to express his/her opinion freely, independently of having or not the support of a majority.
- Critical and constructive spirit: We want to help to create an alternative to the dominant neo-liberal ideology, an alternative that revitalizes the original project of the working-class movement that is a society based on justice and freedom.
- Innovative intervention in society: Research and debates organized by the Institute have the goal to introduce innovative ideas into the society.
- Trade-union orientation: It is our conviction that the collective representation of the workers interests continues to be a basic factor in today's democratic societies. We identify us with all militant and constructive trade-union forces who promote in their words and actions the principles of democracy, pluralism and freedom of opinion.
The Institute organizes seminars regularly; it publishes texts for reflection (IRR Issues) and it is involved in the organization of international conferences and workshops every year.
President: Carlos Trindade. Carlos Trindade is General-Secretary of the Socialist Trade-Union Current of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP-IN) and coordinator of the Trade-Union for Diverse Service Activities (STAD/CGTP-IN). He is member of the Executive Committee of CGTP-IN.