Trade union development in the CEECs

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Abstract
Transition from totalitarian single-party systems carries with it the danger of deunionisation. Trade union organisations can disappear when the structure of the economy changes profoundly. Old structures have only partially been dismantled in the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). A proper division of authority between owners, managers and trade unions has not yet emerged. The economic and social crisis, with rampant poverty and rising unemployment, limits the scope of action of trade unions. Austerity programmes seriously limit collective bargaining. Rates of unionisation go down, and unions are particularly weak in new private activities. After decades of forced consensus from above, it is difficult to build organisations based on democratic delegation of authority. The future of the trade unions will be seriously affected by the choice of development model of the different countries. With wider income differentials and rising poverty and social exclusion, this model in all countries will not be that of a "European" welfare state.

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