The Dutch trade unions – and their support activities in central and eastern Europe
| Date | 01 December 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450510626153 |
| Published date | 01 December 2005 |
| Pages | 624-634 |
| Author | Rene van Tilborg |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
ER
27,6
624
Employee Relations
Vol. 27 No. 6, 2005
pp. 624-634
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/01425450510626153
The Dutch trade unions – and
their support activities in central
and eastern Europe
Rene van Tilborg
President FNV KEIM, President Uni – Graphical, Vice President Uni-Europa
Graphical, Rijswyk, The Netherlands
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to explains how the Dutch unions evolved in the post war period and the
reasons why they committed such significant resources to developing strong links and assisting the
new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe complete the ‘‘Transition Process’’.
Design/methodology/approach – The author draws on his first-hand experience as the president
of the Dutch graphical union, and for many years president and vice president of the sector’s
international trade union federations – to give an insight as to the rationale behind international
trade union cooperation and solidarity.
Findings – The paper suggests that the help and assistance provided by the West European
workers organisations, although costly has brought added value to the enlarged European Trade
Union movement in so much as it has ensured that the Central and Eastern European trade unions
have been able to complete the transition period.
Originality/value – The paper provides a first hand account of the difficulties that trade unions in
the former soviet block countries had to deal with during the transition period, and how trade unions
in the West had to overcome ideological and historical prejudices in order to provide help and
assistance to their sister unions in Central and Eastern Europe.
Keywords Trade unions, Eastern Europe, The Netherlands, Training
Paper type Case study
Introduction
It might be helpful to start by placing the Dutch trade unions in context as they were
shortly before the changes of 1989, whic h finally reunited Europe. This might help the
reader to understand why the Dutch trade unions members were so willing to support
their unknown colleagues in Central and Easter n Europe, and elsewhere, over such a
long period. Trade Unions for obvious reasons give recruitment and the promotion of
solidarity a high priority as a means of developing strong organisations, which are
capable of dealing with the day-to-day problems in labour relations that are faced by
their own members. However, grass roots members do not always recognise the
importance of promoting solidarity and effective trade union co-operation with sister
trade unions across national boarders. It has to be constantly explained and justified or
the union leadership will lose the support of its members fo r international cooperation.
This paper will therefore describe briefly the experiences of the Dutch trade unions just
before the changes in Central and Eastern Europe took place, how they became
involved and eventually became totally convinced that networking workers
organisations throughout Europe in this increasingly globalised wo rld was absolutely
necessary and in their own self-interest.
The Dutch trade unions – a brief history
Throughout most of the last century Dutch society was divided on the basis of religion.
Protestants, Catholics and Humanists coexisted peacefully within the framewo rk of
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