Trade Unions in Central-Eastern Europe: Crisis as an Opportunity?
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Abstract
This paper presents different models of capitalism and trade unionism that have emerged in CEE over the last 25 years. It then traces challenges and unions' strategic responses in five policy areas: membership recruitment; mergers and organisational restructuring; collective bargaining; political engagement and social partnership; and international trade union cooperation. The paper argues that trade unions in the new EU member states do have the potential for strategic innovation and, conceivably, organisational renewal. In order to revitalise, however, they need to take on board the concerns of an increasingly diverse workforce and invest more resources in organising.
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How to Cite
Bernaciak, M., Gumbrell-McCormick, R., & Hyman, R. (2014). Trade Unions in Central-Eastern Europe: Crisis as an Opportunity?. Warsaw Forum of Economic Sociology, 5(10), 7–28. Retrieved from https://econjournals.sgh.waw.pl/wfes/article/view/490
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References
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Mrozowicki, A., Roosalu, T., Senear, T.B., (2013), Precarious Work in the Retail Sector in Estonia, Poland and Slovenia: Trade Union Responses in a Time of Economic Crisis, "Transfer", 19(2): 276-278
Muller, T., Bernaciak, M., (2013), European Wages and Collective Bargaining under Pressure, "International Union Rights Journal", 20(4): 16-21
Myant, M., (2013), The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Collective Bargaining in the Czech Republic, "Transfer", 19(2): 185-194
Neumann, L., (2012), Hungarian Unions: responses to Political Challenges, "Management Revue", 23(4): 369-385
Osila, L., Masso, M., (2013), Estonia: the Impact of Crisis on Industrial Relations, http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/studies/tnl301019s/eel301019q.htm (assessed 15 January 2014)
Stanojevic, M., (2014), Conditions for a Neoliberal Turn: the Cases of Hungary and Slovenia, "European Journal of Industrial Relations", 20 (2): 97-112
Varga, M., (2011), Post-communist Trade Unions and Precarious Work in Central-Eastern Europe, in: Susan, J., Schurman, S.J., Eaton, A.E. eds., Trade Union Organizing in the Informal Economy: A Review of the Literature on Organizing in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Rutgers University: 67-69
Visser, J., (2009), The Quality of Industrial Relations and the Lisbon Strategy, in: Industrial Relations in Europe 2008, Luxembourg: Office for Publications of the European Communities: 44-72
Wybieralski, M., (2013), Połowa Polaków popiera protesty związkowców, nie ufa jednak w ich motywację, "Gazeta Wyborcza", http://wyborcza.p1/l,75478,14669562,Polowa_Polakow_popiera_protesty_zwiazkowcow_nie_ufa.html
Bernaciak, M., (2013), Social Dialogue Revival or PR Corporatism? Negotiating Crisis Measures in Poland and Bulgaria, "Transfer", 19(2): 239-251
Bernaciak, M., (2010), Cross-border Competition and Trade Union Responses in the Enlarged EU: Evidence from the Automotive Industry in Germany and Poland, "European Journal of Industrial Relations", 16(2): 199-135
Bernaciak, M., (2007), Stop Bolkestein! The Analysis of East-West Trade Union Mobilization against the Draft Services Directive, Paper presented at the conference Trade Unions in Central and Eastern Europe, Cevipol/ULB, Brussels, 23-24 March
Bohle, D., Greskovits, B., (2012), Capitalist Diversity on Europes Periphery. Ithaca: Cornell University Press
Bohle, D., Greskovits, B., (2007), Neoliberalism, Embedded Neoliberalism, and Neocorporatism: Paths towards Transnational Capitalism in Central-Eastern Europe, "West European Politics", 30(3): 443-466
Czarzasty, J., (2009), Poland: Government Accepts Anti-Crisis Package Submitted by Social Partners, http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2009/06/articles/pl0906019i.htm (accessed 5 May 2012)
Degryse, Ch., Tilly, P., (2013), 1973-2013. 40 Years of History of the European Trade Union Confederation, Brussels: ETUI
Frege, C., Kelly, J., (2003), Union Strategies in Comparative Context, in: Frege, C. and Kelly, J. eds., Varieties of Unionism. Strategies for Union Revitalization in a Globalizing Economy, Oxford: Oxford University Press: 31-44
Gardawski, J., Meardi, G., (2010), Keep Trying? Polish Failures and Half-Successes in Social Pacting, in: Pochet, P., Keune, M., Natali, D., eds., After the Euro and Enlargement: Social Pacts in the European Union, Brussels: European Trade Union Institute: 371-394
Gonser, M., (2010), How Hard a Blow for the Collective Representation of Labour Interests? The Baltic Industrial Relations and the Financial Crisis, "Emecon", 1, http://www.emecon.eu/current-issue/gonser/ (accessed 11 June 2014)
Greskovits, B., (1998), The Political Economy of Protest and Patience. East European and Latin American Transformations Compared, Budapest: Central European University Press
Gumbrell-McCormick, R., (2000), Facing New Challenges: the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (1972-1990s), in: Carew, A., Dreyfus, M., Van Goethem, G., Gumbrell-McCormick, R., The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Bern: Peter Lang: 341-540
Hyman, R., (2010), Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations during the Economic Crisis: Innovative Practices or Business as Usual?, ILO Working Paper, 11, Geneva: International Labour Organization
Iankova, E., Turner, L., (2004), Building the New Europe: Western and Eastern Roads to Social Partnership, "Industrial Relations Journal", 35(1): 76-92 ICTWSS database, http://www.uva-aias.net/207 (accessed 8 December 2014)
Kahancova, M., Martiskova, M., (2011), Bargaining for Social Rights: reducing Precariousness and Labour Market Segmentation through Collective Bargaining and Social Dialogue (BARSORI). Final report for the Slovak Republic, http://www.uva-aias.net/uploaded_hles/regular/BARSORIreportSlovakia-l.pdf (assessed 10 October 2013)
Klemm, M., Kraetsch, C., Weyand, J., (2011), Solidarität in der europäischen betrieblichen Mitbestimmung als theoretische Herausforderung - ein kultursoziologischer Lösungsvorschlag, "Industrielle Beziehungen", 18(4): 292-314
Kohl, H., Platzer, H-W., (2004), Industrial Relations in Central and Eastern Europe. A Comparison of Eight New EU Member States, Brussels: ETUI
Kotthoff, H., (2005) EU-Osterweiterung: die aktuelle Herausforderung für den Europäischen Betriebsrat, Hans Böckler Stiftung Arbeitspaper, 109, Düsseldorf: Hans Böckler Foundation
Krzywdzinski, M., (2010), Organizing Employees in Central Eastern Europe: the Approach of Solidarność, "European Journal of Industrial Relations", 16(3): 277-292
Meardi, G., (2012), Social Failures of EU Enlargement: a Case of Workers Voting with Their Feet, New York-London: Routledge
Meardi, G., (2004), Short Circuits in Multinational Companies: The Extension of European Works Councils to Poland, "European Journal of Industrial Relations", 10(2): 161-178
Meszmann, T., (2012), Strategic Choices during System Change: Peak Level Unions and Their Struggles for Political Relevance in Post-Communist Slovenia, Serbia and Poland, PhD Dissertation, Budapest: Central European University
Mrozowicki A., (2014), Varieties of Trade Union Organizing in Central and Eastern Europe: a Comparison of the Retail and Automotive Sectors, "European Journal of Industrial Relations", 20(4): 297-315
Mrozowicki, A., Maciejewska, M., (2013), Conflicts at Work in Polands New Capitalism: Worker Resistance in a Flexible Work Regime, in: Gall, G. ed., New Forms and Expressions of Conflict at Work, Basingstoke: Palgrave: 191-211
Mrozowicki, A., Roosalu, T., Senear, T.B., (2013), Precarious Work in the Retail Sector in Estonia, Poland and Slovenia: Trade Union Responses in a Time of Economic Crisis, "Transfer", 19(2): 276-278
Muller, T., Bernaciak, M., (2013), European Wages and Collective Bargaining under Pressure, "International Union Rights Journal", 20(4): 16-21
Myant, M., (2013), The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Collective Bargaining in the Czech Republic, "Transfer", 19(2): 185-194
Neumann, L., (2012), Hungarian Unions: responses to Political Challenges, "Management Revue", 23(4): 369-385
Osila, L., Masso, M., (2013), Estonia: the Impact of Crisis on Industrial Relations, http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/studies/tnl301019s/eel301019q.htm (assessed 15 January 2014)
Stanojevic, M., (2014), Conditions for a Neoliberal Turn: the Cases of Hungary and Slovenia, "European Journal of Industrial Relations", 20 (2): 97-112
Varga, M., (2011), Post-communist Trade Unions and Precarious Work in Central-Eastern Europe, in: Susan, J., Schurman, S.J., Eaton, A.E. eds., Trade Union Organizing in the Informal Economy: A Review of the Literature on Organizing in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Rutgers University: 67-69
Visser, J., (2009), The Quality of Industrial Relations and the Lisbon Strategy, in: Industrial Relations in Europe 2008, Luxembourg: Office for Publications of the European Communities: 44-72
Wybieralski, M., (2013), Połowa Polaków popiera protesty związkowców, nie ufa jednak w ich motywację, "Gazeta Wyborcza", http://wyborcza.p1/l,75478,14669562,Polowa_Polakow_popiera_protesty_zwiazkowcow_nie_ufa.html