1. Postulates

The CTUB&H is a unitary, multiethnic workers` organization which is active across Bosnia and Herzegovina in conformity with the Statute and national laws. The Statute regulates the title, headquarters, objectives and means of implementation, internal organization, membership policies and rules for termination of membership, rights and liabilities of the members, representation, means of acquisition and disposing of assets, means of informing the public on the work and acquisition of assets, decision-making procedures on mergers with confederations and other forms of associating with political organizations, procedures for enacting of the Statute, participation in social partnership and civic society in B&H in general, procedures for termination of activity of the CTUB&H, ways of disposing of assets in the event of termination and other matters relevant to the work of the CTUB&H.

The CTUB&H implements its programmatic principles and objectives in legal, democratic and peaceful methods of public work. The transparency of CTUB&H`s work and work of its lower levels of organization is achieved through union gatherings, public discussions, seminars and round table sessions, and finally through the means of internal informing and public media. Through its work, the CTUB&H establishes relations with and influences the citizens, workers in the Commercial and services sectors, its members and the general public opinion.

Membership in the CTUB&H is voluntary and individual. Any worker may become a member of the CTUB&H if they are employed in the commercial and services sectors as well as in other sectors, if they see their prospects and interests in the CTUB&H and want to become a part of it and comply with its Program and Statute. Students and pensioners may also become members as well as all other citizens of B&H who agree to comply with the principles and Statute by filling in the admission form and who are compliant with all the provisions which regulate the rights, liabilities and responsibilities of all members of the CTUB&H. Membership fee is mandatory for all members. The CTUB&H is not targeting mass membership only but also its affiliates in wider civic society.

2. Relationships in the CTUB&H

The CTUB&H is run in line with the members` will and preferences and together they constitute a party of mutually equal members of the Union. The relationships in the CTUB&H are founded on the principles of democratic decision-making, protection of members` rights, freedom of opinion and initiative, equity, tolerance and mutual respect, constant and open dialogue, shared responsibility among members and CTU bodies for all matters within their statutory scope, transparency and consistent implementation of the provisions and postulates of the Statute, program and decrees made by the CTU bodies.

The Congress of the CTUB&H sets forth the fundamental rules and procedures by which the core questions of organization and work of the Union bodies are regulated, as well as the mechanisms for protection and realization of members` rights on all levels of organization. Each body of the CTU can adopt a Rulebook by which the matters relevant to the work of the union bodies in question shall be more precisely regulated.

The prerequisites for work and valid decision-making in a body are regulated by the Statute. Every member shares equal responsibilities and right to give proposals, participate in discussions and pass decisions. All proposals from members and bodies must taken into consideration under same conditions and free of discrimination on any grounds. Finally, the proposals are discussed and passed in the bodies. None of the proposals given by a member cannot be ignored or neglected without prior discussion and taking into consideration; furthermore, a body cannot authorize a single person or a body to pass or ratify an act retrospectively and outside of the body.

All members, regardless of their belonging to majority or minority in decision-making, have the equal right to protection of their personal dignity, integrity and rights and they cannot enjoy any special benefits when exercising their rights or completing their duties. Voting in bodies may be public or secret. Secret voting may be employed in cases when at least one quarter of present members of a body requests so. The bodies cannot assign decision-making in their own statutory range to some other body or working body.

All duties in bodies are equally accessible to both men and women. The duties of the president, regional representatives and treasurers of the organization are managerial duties.

The term of office for all positions is four years, except in special circumstances set out by the Statute. The candidacy is free and available to all members who meet the requirements set out by the Statute. All candidates are equally entitled to present themselves and their program to the body undergoing the elections. The sequence in presentation procedure shall be arranged by a draw.

National representation in key positions in the Commercial Trade Union is one of the priorities which will be strictly considered on all levels of organization.

3. Organization and Bodies

The CTUB&H is organized along the geographical/territorial principles. The members of the CTUB&H can be organized on the basis of interests. Within the Union as a unitary workers` organization which is active across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the members are organized into: Council of Delegates, Executive Board, Regional Boards and local branches.

The Congress is the highest body in the hierarchy which represents the members and manages the CTUB&H. The Congress works in sessions which take place every fourth year. The Congress appoints the staff to the Executive Board, Council of Delegates and Revision Board.

The Executive Board is the highest body which is represented by members and it manages the CTUB&H in the periods between two Congress sessions. The Executive Board is the highest Union body which is in power of deciding on all matters relevant to the CTUB&H; the Congress manages the Union and represents it in general public. Work, roles and responsibilities of the Executive Board and its members are defined by the Statute.

The Council of Delegates- the members of this body are appointed at Congress sessions. Each region of the CTUB&H is entitled to appoint 3 delegates in the Council. The Women and Youth Sections have one delegate in the Council. The President of the CTUB&H is appointed directly and he/she is a member of the Council of Delegates. The term of office is four years for every delegating position and the members of the Council of Delegates are at the same time the delegates in the Congress. The core duty of this body is to monitor the work of the CTUB&H and carry out evaluation and give recommendations on the basis of evaluation.

The Revision Board of the CTUB&H is the body which is appointed by the Executive Board on the four-year term of office basis. It has the duty of controlling financial operations in the CTUB&H, budget planning, keeping track of expenditures, making reports on financial operations and proposes measures in line with the economic policies of the CTUB&H. The Revision Board also controls the financial operations of regional boards and local branches as well as of the headquarters of the CTUB&H.

4. Organizational models

Organization of the CTUB&H on local level comprises of members residing in the territory of the CTUB&H regions. Local organization works independently in conformity with the Program and Statute, decrees set out by the CTUB&H bodies and its task of implementing the objectives of the CTUB&H within their scope of influence. Local level of organization in one region is called regional organization. The spatial scope of one local organization of the CTUB&H does not correspond with the administrative and territorial organization of Bosnia and Herzegovina; however it is designed on basis of geographical map of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of a more efficient management of the Union. A local organization is established by the decision brought by the Executive Board if there is a need for the establishment of it. The number of members in a region serves as the criteria for the establishment of a CTUB&H region. A regional representative is at the head of a regional organization and he/she is appointed by the Executive Board in line with the Criteria and Principles for the Election of Trade Union Representatives.

A local branch is the smallest unit in organizational scheme of the CTUB&H. Its scope of influence is within a company in which the CTUB&H has the right to represent the workers who, by becoming members, have recognized the CTUB&H as their legal and legitimate representative. Rules and regulations on organizing for the representatives are defined by the Rules and Procedures on Organizing in the CTUB&H.

Councils of the CTUB&H are standing working bodies of the Executive Board which focus on specific areas of work (union, partnerships, socio-political relations, legal, economic, cultural and other matters). All members of the union who are not the members of union bodies can participate in the work of these councils, including experts, public personae who are not members of the CTUB&H if their contribution is needed. The structure, scope of influence, tasks and composition of councils shall be specified by the Executive Board.

5. CTUB&H`s Assets

The assets of the CTUB&H comprise of its monetary resources, tangible and fixed assets, proprietary rights and copyrights acquired in compliance with the policies of the CTUB&H. The CTUB&H obtains capital from: membership fees, voluntary contributions, profits accumulated from its assets and other legal sources of funding. The Executive Board of the CTUB&H enacts the policies for acquisition, management and allocation of assets of the CTUB&H and the appointed management on all levels of organization is implementing those policies. The Executive Board is responsible for drafting financial plans and reporting on their implementation.