Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review 2010, 46(6): 889-912 | DOI: 10.13060/00380288.2010.46.6.02

Trade Union Influence in the Czech Republic since 1989

Martin Myant
University of the West of Scotland, Paisley

Trade unions in the Czech Republic have experienced a steady decline in membership and, albeit less markedly, in bargaining coverage since the early 1990s, but much less decline in political influence. An assessment of the extent of their overall ability to influence society's development requires a division into three spheres: business, employment relations, and the state budget. Strength in one sphere is found to influence strength in others. The development of collective bargaining in workplaces and at the sectoral level took shape relatively early. Forms of political influence developed more gradually, by a learning process, to include a combination of participation in tripartite structures, organising mass protest demonstrations and lobbying MPs and ministers. The relative weights of these elements, and their effectiveness, have varied with different governments and balances of power in parliament.

Keywords: Czech Republic, trade unions, labour relations, tripartism

Published: December 1, 2010Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Myant, M. (2010). Trade Union Influence in the Czech Republic since 1989. Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review, 46(6), 889-912. doi: 10.13060/00380288.2010.46.6.02.
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Avdagic, Sabina. 2005. 'State-labour Relations in East Central Europe: Explaining Variations in Union Effectiveness.' Socio-Economic Review 3: 25-53. Go to original source...
    2. Benešová, Jana. 2005. 'Živá voda pro Středočechy - Proč ve Škodě Auto odbory vyhrály.' (New Life for Central Bohemia - Why the Trade Unions Won in the Škoda Car Manufacturer) Kovák 22, April 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2005/k14_25.htm).
    3. Boeri, Tito and Katherine Terrell. 2002. 'Institutional Determinants of Labor Reallocation in Transition.' Journal of Economic Perspectives 16: 51-76. Go to original source...
    4. Bohle, Dorothee and Bela Greskovits. 2006. 'Capitalism without Compromise: Strong Business and Weak Labor in East Europe's New Transnational Industries.' Studies in Comparative International Development 41: 3-25. Go to original source...
    5. ČMKOS. 2007. Analýza dopadů reformy veřejných financí stran ODS-KDU/ČSL-SZ. (Analysis of the Impact of the Reform of Public Finances of the Political Parties ODS, KDU-ČSL and SZ) Prague: ČMKOS.
    6. ČMKOS. 2010a. Cesty, křižovatky, střety nových odborů: 20 let hájíme práva zaměstnanců. (Roads, Crossroads and Conflicts Encountered by the New Trade Unions: We Have Defended the Rights of Employees for 20 Years) Prague: ČMKOS.
    7. ČMKOS. 2010b. Zpráva Rady ČMKOS pro V. sjezd ČMKOS. (Report of the ČMKOS Council to the 5th Congress) Prague: ČMKOS.
    8. Crouch, Colin. 1993. Industrial Relations and European State Traditions. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Go to original source...
    9. Crowley, Stephen. 2004. 'Explaining Labor Weakness in Post-communist Europe: Historical Legacies and Comparative Perspective.' East European Politics and Societies 18: 394-429. Go to original source...
    10. Czech Statistical Office. 2009. Statistical Yearbook of the Czech Republic. Prague: Český statistický úřad. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.czso.cz/csu/2009edicniplan.nsf/p/0001-09).
    11. Fassmann, Martin, Vladimír Pelc and Růžena Vintrová. 2004. Mýty, lži a pověry českých reforem veřejných financí. (Myths, Lies and Superstition about the Czech Public Finance Reforms) Prague: Pohledy.
    12. Hamann, Kerstin and John Kelly. 2004. 'Unions as Political Actors: A Recipe for Revitalisation?' Pp. 93-116 in Varieties of Unionism: Strategies for Union Revitalization in a Globalizing Economy, edited by Carola Frege and John Kelly. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Go to original source...
    13. Hyman, Richard. 2001. Understanding European Trade Unionism. London: Sage.
    14. Iankova, Elena. 2002. Eastern European Capitalism in the Making. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Go to original source...
    15. IVVM (Institut pro výzkum veřejného mínění). 1995. 'Důvěra občanů v některé instituce.' (The Trust of Citizens in Various Institutions) Research Report No. 9510. Prague: IVVM.
    16. IVVM (Institut pro výzkumy veřejného mínění). 1997. 'K názorům na listopadovou demonstraci ČMKOS.' (Opinions on the ČMKOS November Demonstration) Research Report No. 9712. Prague: IVVM.
    17. Jančok, Miroslav. 2007. 'Nejen slyší, ale také činí.' (It Doesn't Only Hear, But Also Acts) Kovák 18, 10 May. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2007/k18_27.htm).
    18. Kupka, Jaroslav. 1974. Postavení a úloha odborů za socialismu. (The Position and Role of Trade Unions under Socialism) Prague: Práce.
    19. Lawrence, Sophia and Junko Ishikawa. 2005. 'Social Dialogue Indicators: Trade Union Membership and Collective Bargaining Coverage: Statistical Concepts, Methods and Findings.' Working Paper No. 59. Geneva: ILO, Policy Integration Department. Go to original source...
    20. Mariel, Jaroslav. 2005. 'Dokud je z čeho brát.' (As Long as There's Something to Take From) Kovák 1, 14 January. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2005/k01_25.htm).
    21. Myant, Martin. 1993. 'Czech and Slovak Trade Unions.' Journal of Communist Studies 9: 60-84. Go to original source...
    22. Myant, Martin. 2003. The Rise and Fall of Czech Capitalism. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
    23. Myant, Martin. 2007. 'Trade Unions in the Czech Republic.' Pp. 335-346 in Trade Union Revitalisation: Trends and Prospects in 34 Countries, edited by Craig Phelan. Oxford: Peter Lang.
    24. Myant, Martin. 2008. 'Les gouvernements sociaux-démocrates et la variété de capitalisme en République tchèque.' Critique internationale 39: 111-138. Go to original source...
    25. Myant, Martin. 2010. Trade Unions in the Czech Republic. Brussels: European Union Trade Institute.
    26. Myant, Martin and Jan Drahokoupil. 2010. Transition Economies: Political Economy in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Go to original source...
    27. Myant, Martin, Brian Slocock and Simon Smith. 2000. 'Tripartism in the Czech and Slovak Republics.' Europe-Asia Studies 52: 723-739. Go to original source...
    28. Ost, David. 2000. 'Illusory Corporatism in Eastern Europe: Neoliberal Tripartism and Postcommunist Class Identities.' Politics & Society 28: 503-530. Go to original source...
    29. Ost, David. 2007. 'Trade Union Revitalisation in Poland: Trends and Prospects.' Pp. 303-317 in Trade Union Revitalisation: Trends and Prospects in 34 Countries, edited by Craig Phelan. Oxford: Peter Lang.
    30. Pacák, Roman. 2005. 'Liberecké nebe a dudy.' (The Good and the Bad in Liberec) Kovák 16, 6 May. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2005/k16_25.htm).
    31. Pekarková, Ivana. 2005. 'STAP Vilémov u Šluknova.' (The STAP Company in Vilémov u Šluknova) TOK noviny 6.
    32. Přibyl, Ivan. 2005. 'Olomoucká bílá vrána.' (The Rare Bird in Olomouc) Kovák 28, 2 September. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2005/k28_25.htm).
    33. Richter, Jiří and Karel Kouřil. 1970. Postavení a úloha odborů za socialismu. (The Position and Role of Trade Unions under Socialism) Prague: Práce.
    34. Souček, Jaroslav. 2006. 'Kampaň na podporu kolektivního vyjednávání podnikových kolektivních smluv na rok 2007' (The Campaign in Support of Negotiating Enterprise Collective Agreements for 2007). Kovák 27, 25 August. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2006/k27_26.htm).
    35. Stasek, Frantisek. 2005. 'Employee Relations in the Czech Republic - Past, Present and Future.' Employee Relations 27: 581-591. Go to original source...
    36. Unger, Rudolf. 2006. 'Nelitují života pro odbory.' (They Have No Regrets over a Life for Trade Unions) Kovák 20, 2 June. Retrieved 1 November 2010 (http://www.oskovo.cz/kovak/2006/k20_26.htm).
    37. Waddington, Jeremy and Anna Pollert. 1997. Odbory v České republice. (Trade Unions in the Czech Republic) Prague: ČMKOS.
    38. Wiesenthal, Helmut. 1996. 'Organized Interests in Contemporary East Central Europe: Theoretical Perspectives and Tentative Hypotheses.' Pp. 40-58 in Parliaments and Organized Interests: The Second Steps, edited by Attila Ágh and Gabriella Ilonszki. Budapest: Hungarian Center for Democracy Studies Foundation.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content