From now on, the ACLVB will continue under a new name: SYNOVA. The union announced this in a press release. The association calls the name change “a new chapter in its history”.
The decision to change the name was finally taken during an extraordinary conference in Auditorium 2000 at Brussels Expo and, according to the association, is the result of “a broad process within the organization”. For example, National Committee, National Bureau, Executive Committee, staff and members were surveyed about the change.
“Today we didn’t just choose a new name.
We have taken on a new responsibility: staying true to our
assignment by daring to change,” says national chairman Gert Truyens.
It is striking that the ‘L’ of ‘Liberal’ disappears from the original name. According to the chairman, this is a choice that can count on overwhelming support from the members: more than 80 percent of respondents are of the opinion that that title no longer fits the identity of the trade union. SYNOVA would rather not work ‘from pillars, party political logic and dogmas, but from independence,
responsibility and the concrete reality of people’ will operate.
Broader evolution
Instead, the association opts for a combination of the Greek word ‘SYN’, which means ‘together’, and ‘NOVA’, for ‘new’. According to the association, it is a purely cosmetic change, but rather the ‘final part of a broader evolution that has been going on within the organization for some time. Work changes, careers change, technology changes and employee expectations change too.
“We want to respond to that with a union that is closer
the focus is on the people, an even stronger focus on services, and social consultation again
strengthened,” Truyens continues.
In the press release, SYNOVA states that social consultation must be used more strongly on the issues that are currently in the workplace. Pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, mobility, job corners, flexibility and cafeteria plans are mentioned.
“That is where our responsibility lies. Social consultation should not be a ritual or a…
mandatory number. It must once again be the place where solutions begin. There
we want to fully take on our role as a free trade union,” Truyens adds.
SYNOVA was founded in 1891 and has more than 310,000 members and 600 employees.
