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Trade Union Experiences
in Collective Bargaining
in Central Europe

A Report of an ILO Survey in Bulgaria
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia

This report is based on a survey that was carried out among 3,206 trade union representatives who have negotiated collective agreements in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The focus of the survey is on the subjective experience of those persons, who have the task of representing their colleagues in negotiations over wages, working hours and other conditions of employment.

The purpose of the survey is twofold: It supports the collective bargaining work done by trade unions in this region and it provides an organized body of knowledge for everyone who is interested in industrial relations in central and eastern Europe.

Agreements are essential mechanisms of a market economy. Collective bargaining is a most important way of determining conditions of work. An agreement in a market economy assumes independent actors who accept obligations and commitments in exchange of rights and advantages. There must be sufficient confidence in the credibility of each partner.

The concepts of collective agreement and collective bargaining are quite different in different countries. Within Europe, there are distinctly separate traditions. These concepts are also quite different in Central and Eastern European countries. This report points out many such differences.

Specific solutions have to be based on the unique realities of each country. In finding the specific solutions, trade unions - und employers' organizations - in this region should study the different experiences, but should not follow any one of them too closely. The fundamental concepts of democratic, independent and representative organizations who negotiate with each other to create and to implement collective agreements, can be realized in different ways.

The survey forms a part of a project for strengthening trade unions in Central and Eastern European countries that has been financed by the Government of the Netherlands.

Preface		xiii
Foreword by Krastyo Petkov		xv
INTRODUCTION		1
CHAPTER 1: METHODOLOGY OF THE PROJECT		3
1.1. Methodological Concerns 1.2. Questionnaire Design	1.3. Distribution and Responses 1.4. Analysis of the Data
CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTION OF THE SURVEY UNITS		8
2.1. Field of Activity 2.2. Size 2.3. Property Form	2.4. Ownership 2.5. Market
CHAPTER 3: SITUATION OF THE TRADE UNIONS		15
3.1. Legal Framework	3.2. Survey Results
Bulgaria Czech Republic and Slovakia Hungary Poland	Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Poland Slovakia International Comparison
CHAPTER 4: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING		44
4.1. Legal Framework	4.2. Survey Results
Bulgaria Czech Republic and Slovakia Hungary Poland	Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Poland Slovakia International Comparison
CHAPTER 5: COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT		76
5.1. Legal Framework	5.2. Survey Results
Bulgaria Czech Republic and Slovakia Hungary Poland	Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Poland Slovakia International Comparison
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS		146
Appendix 1: Questions and Tables		153
Appendix 2: Definitions and Instructions		180
Appendix 3: List of Trade Union Confederations		182
Appendix 4: ILO Conventions 87 and 98		184