Employee relations in the Czech Republic – past, present and future
| Published date | 01 December 2005 |
| Date | 01 December 2005 |
| Pages | 581-591 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450510626117 |
| Author | Frantisek Stasek |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
Employee
relations in the
Czech Republic
581
Employee Relations
Vol. 27 No. 6, 2005
pp. 581-591
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/01425450510626117
Employee relations in the
Czech Republic – past, present
and future
Frantisek Stasek
President, Typograficka Beseda, Czech Republic
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to provide an insight into how trade union activities in the Czech
Republic have developed in the 15 years since the ‘‘Velvet Revolution’’ of 1989 and discusses some of
the important political, economic and cultural factors which have influenced that development.
Design/methodology/approach – The author shares with us his fascinating experiences as an
activist in Czechoslovak and latterly Czech politics over a period, which spans some of the great
events in the History of the Czech Lands. As an activist in the trade unions he was at the center of the
events known as the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and for the 15 years that followed he has been
President of Typograficka Beseda (the Print Trade Union) – and has lead the union through the
troubled waters of reconstruction, transition to a market economy, democracy, privatisation and EU
membership. This first hand account provides a welcome insight from an important ‘‘player’’ in the
events that re-shaped the system of employee relations in that region.
Findings – The paper compares the myth of democratic trade union institutions and workers rights
under Communism with the reality of the Czechoslovak industrial relations system under the old
regime where the trade unions were restricted to dispersing welfare and holiday club benefits. The
author explains the major problems which faced the new democratic trade unions which were set-up
in the aftermath of the 1989 Revolutions – in particular the haemorrhage of members, the loss of
experienced leaders to politics and business, privatisation and the general distrust of the trade unions
which were still perceived by many as still being run by and in the interests of the Communist Party.
Research limitations/implications – One of the main strengths of this paper is that being a
player rather than a mere observer its author provides a study which is based on being at the center
of the events that moulded the new democratic trade unions that emerged after Communism
collapsed in the former Czechoslovakia. The frame work within the artic le provides a challenge and
points the way to further research into the internal and external environmental factors which the
author argues are the key to understanding the changes and which determined the political, economic
and social structures that the Czech trade unions adopted.
Originality/value – The paper’s main value is that it provides primary material – a first hand
account of the events that are normally written by people who were not even born when they took
place. These are the reflections based on actually being in the place at the time seeing hearing
smelling and sharing the feelings of those who were there.
Keywords Czech Republic, Employee relations, Eastern Europe, Trade unions
Paper type Case study
Introduction
The events of 1989 which took place 15 years ago in the in the former Czechoslovakia
are now referred to as the Velvet Revolution. That historic departure was made
possible by a small number of politicians who now run the countr y – or so those rather
immodest present day protagonists of neo-liberal economics would have us believe!
The truth of the matter is something quite different.
The brave people who actually carried out the revolution do not deserve to be
forgotten.
Central to the success of the revolution were the people in the factories, the leaders of
the dissatisfied in the enterprises. Without such people, the central places targeted for
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
To continue reading
Request your trial