Great expectations ‐ fading hopes: Trade unions and system‐change in Hungary

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Abstract
The transition to democracy in Hungary did not bring a radical revolt against the ‘mass organization’ trade unions of the communist period. During the communist period, however, the role of the trade unions had to some extent evolved. Thwarted in their striving for an independent expression of their interests in the aftermath of 1956, individual workers bettered themselves through labour mobility and the growing second economy, whilst the trade unions became part of the management structure of the enterprise. This interplay of management intrusion and worker indifference resulted in the persistence of enterprise union sections and the scattered nature of attempts to organize to combat that management role. The changes since 1989 could result in enterprise sections cutting their ties to management, but the financial and personal dependence of the unions, the strength of old traditions and customs, and personal relations have so far conspired to outweigh countervailing forces.

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