The GPMU and graphical and paper trade unions in central and eastern Europe
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450510626090 |
| Pages | 555-565 |
| Published date | 01 December 2005 |
| Date | 01 December 2005 |
| Author | Geoff Hayward |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
Trade unions
in central and
eastern Europe
555
Employee Relations
Vol. 27 No. 6, 2005
pp. 555-565
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/01425450510626090
The GPMU and graphical and
paper trade unions in central
and eastern Europe
Geoff Hayward
Visiting Professor, Department of HRM, Strathclyde University, United Kingdom
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to provide an insight into the psychic of working people in the immediate
aftermath of the 1989 changes, especially with regards to their perception of the new free trade
unions, how this perception changed and the role that education and training has played in helping
them develop free and effective trade unions capable of operating in Market Societies.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper has used extensively the archives of the GPMU and
UEG to piece together 15 years experience of a international trade union federation’s efforts to assist
its new affiliates in Central and Eastern Europe adapt to operating in a market economy.
Findings – The paper suggests that attitudes, perceptions and aspirations have changed, both
amongst the newly democratised trade unions of the CEEC countries, and the trade unions in the
West. Trade union education and training over the past 15 years has created confident and capable
trade union organisations who now stand on equal terms with their Western Europe an counterparts.
Originality/value – The authors access to the primary materials in the archives of the British Print
Union and the European Federation for graphical workers provides a unique insight which
demonstrates that the help and assistance given after 1989 was systematic, well planned, adequately
funded and has provided tangible outcomes.
Keywords Trade unions, Eastern Europe, Education, Training, European Union, Europe
Paper type Case study
Introduction
With the fall of Communism in Eastern and Central Europe the trade union movement
in the region found itself disengaged from the former state apparatus. It was on its
own – and the early euphoric mood of the early 1990 soon became tempered by the
harsh realities of surviving and operating in a free market environment. The newly
freed trade unions in the central and eastern european coun tries (CEEC) were obliged
to look to their comrades in the West for some guidance as to how to operate in a
market economy.
This paper attempts to set the scene by describing the mood, aspirations and of
course the awesome challenges that faced the CEEC trade unions in their early years of
freedom. It also explains the type of help and assistance provided by the graphical,
media, paper union (GPMU) of the UK[1] and others initially and how that aid, in light
of experience, became far more ambitious and cost effective. The paper briefly outlines
the four year rolling program of aid which took the form of sem inars involvingsome 20
instructors from the West European Trade Union movement who organised seminars
in 18 CEEC countries which provided an opportunity for over 1,600 CEEC trade union
activists to acquire and develop knowledge and skills aimed at equipping them to
effectively represent their members in market economies.
Paradox – mergers and amalgamations in west – fragmentation in CEEC
From a trade union point of view, the events in Central and Eastern Europe were a
massive contradiction and at complete odds with what were happening in the rest of
the industrialised Western world. The g rowth of Multi-nationals, the merging of
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