trade union strategies in central and eastern europe evelin toth mucciacciaro, actrav europe,...
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Trade Union Strategies in Central and Eastern
Europe
Evelin Toth Mucciacciaro, ACTRAV Europe, ITC-ILO, 12 February 2007, Turin
General Info about Europe World’s second smallest continent in terms of area (2% of the
Earth’s surface) Population: 727 mil. (world’s third largest continent) Includes 48 countries (27 are members of the European Union – the
largest political and economic entity by area and population/492.8 million inhabitants)
the world’s largest economy with an estimated nominal GDP of 13.4 trillion USD
Global Competitiveness Report (2006-2007) 7 out of 10 most competitive economies in the world are from Europe (CH,FI, SE, DK, DE, NL, UK)
Communist nations in Eastern Europe
Soviet Union’s expansion in EE
Warsaw Pact Socialist economies
Capitalist countries in Western Europe
Partnership with United States European Union (ESCS, 1951;
EEC, 1957; 1992 EU) NATO Free trade, open market
Historical backgroundDivision in two major political and economic blocksConflict, tension and competition between East and West
Beginning of Transition
The fall of the Berlin Wall – Turning point in CEE history towards democracy (1989)
Transition from one-party rule of the communist party to democratic pluralism (first free elections)
Freedom of speech From atheism and suppressed
religion to freedom to profess religious belief
Independent judiciary Transition from centrally planned to
market economy Transition from TU controlled by the
state to independent trade union movement
1991 – dissolution of the Soviet Union
Solidarnosc
1980 - birth of ,,Solidarnosc’’, the independent self-governing labour union ,,Solidarity’’ – leading actor of change
Strike of shipyard dockers on the Baltic Sea – political dimension (against poverty, for pay rises, for freedom of the press and speech, right to strike, right to organise free and independent trade unions)
Solidarity’s influence throughout the countries of the Central and Eastern Europe
Solidarnosc – international affiliation to ICFTU,WCL and ETUC
www.solidarnosc.org.pl
Changing Role of Trade Unions
Trade union activity shaped by economic, political and social context
DILEMMA: Oppose or support modernisation of economy knowing that there will be negative social consequences
Opposition = exclusion from participation in strategic decision-making in national reform, risk of long-term marginalisation
Support = participation and responsibility for success/failure
Central and Eastern Europe Before Transition
Enterprises protected against the impacts of the world markets
Centrally organised production and distribution
Administrative decisions determine resource allocation and prices
Strongly regulated labour markets
High employment and income security and job stability for the workers
Full employment
High Union Density
1990s in CEE
Privatization
Opening up of national economies to global competition
Competitiveness
Domestic enterprises must adjust their workforce in numbers, structure and quality to market demand
Changes in labour legislation
Labour market flexibility
Poor law enforcement
Job insecurity
Violations of trade union rights
Need for social partners to agree on compromises
ESCESCESCESCEmployers’ Associations
Trade Unions
Government
Tripartism
Economic and Social Reforms
Focus on competitiveness of economy and creation of business-friendly environment at the expense of labour and social rights
Social reforms: health, pension …
Major impact of neo-liberal approach of World Bank and International Monetary Fund
European social model – vision of society that combines sustainable economic growth with high-level living and working conditions
International co-operation
International recognition of CEE unions by ICFTU and WCL Merger of ICFTU and WCL into ITUC
Pan-European Region Council – to be established in March 2007 – structure for ITUC affiliates in Europe
From 1995: integration of CEE unions to ETUC/European Trade Union Confederation; it currently comprises 81 member organisations, from a total of 36 countries in Europe, and 12 industry federations. ETUC represents the
interests of 60 million organized workers at European level www.etuc.org role of ILO (research, expertise, policy advise)
Trade Union Density
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Pe
rce
nt
1995
2004
LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP
Pluralism and fragmentation of TU movements – weakened TU position, TUs fighting each other
In CEE, 75% of workers are not unionised and are left outside the scope of present social dialogue
Objective reasons: bankruptcy and liquidation of enterprises, reduction of number of workers, a spilling over of labour into the private and shadow sectors of the economy
Restructuring of enterprises, their fragmentation into small enterprises
Anti-trade union activity of employers
Formation through mass media of a negative opinion of trade unions
ORGANISING IN CEE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD
LACK OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANISERS
EXISTING TRADE UNION STRUCTURES ARE NOT FIT FOR ORGANISING
LITTLE OR NO BUDGET FOR ORGANISING
NO STRATEGIC PLANNING OF RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGNS
DIFFICULTIES IN ORGANISING IN NEW SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY IN INFORMAL ECONOMY
SMEs, MNEs …
CONSOLIDATION OF TRADE UNION MOVEMENTS Vision of trade union in the future (2010, 2020…)
Reflexive capacity of trade unions – self-analysis and analysis of environment
Need for constant and rapid adjustment to change
Not rely on ,,borrowed experience’’ – find one’s own way adapted to the national context
Build capacity at all levels for continuous negotiations on salaries and working conditions
Need for more ambitious collective bargaining on a wider spectrum of topics
Potential of ,,social pacts’’
2005 Eurodemonstrations inBrussels, the capital of Europe
EURODEMONSTRATIONS