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Institutions and Strategies: Trends and Obstacles to Recruiting Workers into Trade Unions in Poland

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  • Jan Czarzasty
  • Katarzyna Gajewska
  • Adam Mrozowicki

Abstract

In this article, we examine the role of institutional context, organizational structures and trade union strategies in tempering membership decline in the number of trade unions in Poland. Empirical data include membership statistics collected for NSZZ Solidarność and 54 affiliates of two other largest trade union confederations (OPZZ and FZZ) supplemented by semi-structured interviews with union leaders. In a decentralized collective bargaining system in Poland, a centralized trade union confederation (NSZZ Solidarność) can more easily shift resources to efficiently organize workers than decentralized confederations, OPZZ and FZZ, whose development is mostly driven by competing trade unions representing narrower occupational groups. In conclusion, this observation is put in a broader context of the debates about trade union renewal in Eastern Europe.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Czarzasty & Katarzyna Gajewska & Adam Mrozowicki, 2014. "Institutions and Strategies: Trends and Obstacles to Recruiting Workers into Trade Unions in Poland," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(1), pages 112-135, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:52:y:2014:i:1:p:112-135
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2012.00919.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lowell Turner, 2009. "Institutions and Activism: Crisis and Opportunity for a German Labor Movement in Decline," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(3), pages 294-312, April.
    2. Robert Hickey & Sarosh Kuruvilla & Tashlin Lakhani, 2010. "No Panacea for Success: Member Activism, Organizing and Union Renewal," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(1), pages 53-83, March.
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    4. Adam Mrozowicki & Valeria Pulignano & Geert Van Hootegem, 2010. "Worker agency and trade union renewal: the case of Poland," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(2), pages 221-240, June.
    5. Carola M. Frege & Andra´s To´th, 1999. "Institutions Matter: Union Solidarity in Hungary and East Germany," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 117-140, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Izabela Jonek-Kowalska, 2014. "Employment and Remuneration Trends in Polish Hard Coal Mines in the Context of the Relations Between Boards and Trade Unions," International Journal of Synergy and Research, ToKnowPress, vol. 3(1), pages 27-43.
    2. Kairit Kall, 2024. "From a handful of activists towards an organising subculture: institutionalisation of transnational union organising in Central and Eastern Europe," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 30(1), pages 87-101, February.
    3. Piotr Żuk, 2017. "Employment structures, employee attitudes and workplace resistance in neoliberal Poland," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 28(1), pages 91-112, March.
    4. Plomien, Ania & Schwartz, G, 2020. "Labour mobility in transnational Europe: between depletion, mitigation and citizenship entitlements harm," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103955, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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