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Strengthening legislation, weakening collective bargaining? Two faces of trade union strategies in Czechia and Slovakia

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  • Marta Kahancová
  • Monika MartiÅ¡ková

Abstract

The paper studies how unions used two types of resources, namely, access to national legislation/policy and to collective bargaining, to improve working conditions in healthcare and in agency work in Czechia and Slovakia. It examines how these two types of institutional resources interact, whether they are potentially in competition and how this affects union revitalization. Unions’ post-2008 strategies in the two sectors converged towards political action due to their preference for legislative regulation of issues previously bargained about or unregulated. The paper argues that extensive use of institutional safeguards contributes to improving working conditions; however, prioritizing political action may weaken other types of union strategies and undermine future access to collective bargaining. In other words, extensive utilization of one institutional resource (legislation) may gradually weaken other types of resources (collective bargaining) and thereby undermine the overall revitalization capacity of trade unions.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Kahancová & Monika MartiÅ¡ková, 2023. "Strengthening legislation, weakening collective bargaining? Two faces of trade union strategies in Czechia and Slovakia," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(1), pages 63-81, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eurjou:v:29:y:2023:i:1:p:63-81
    DOI: 10.1177/09596801221140408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Klaus Doerre & Hajo Holst & Oliver Nachtwey, 2009. "Organizing – A Strategic Option for Trade Union Renewal?," International Journal of Action Research, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 5(1), pages 33-67.
    4. Christian Lévesque & Gregor Murray, 2010. "Understanding union power: resources and capabilities for renewing union capacity," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 16(3), pages 333-350, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marta Kahancová & Katarína Staroňová, 2024. "Arms-length influence: Public sector wage setting and export-led economic growth in Czechia and Slovakia," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 30(1), pages 97-119, March.
    2. Sonila Danaj & Tibor T Meszmann, 2024. "Weathering intermediated temporary labour mobility: social partners in Central and Eastern Europe after EU enlargement," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 30(1), pages 67-85, February.
    3. Petr Mezihorak & Annalisa Murgia, 2024. "From resentment to deconstruction: Whistleblowing as a politico-legal tool of labour law enforcement," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(2), pages 511-529, May.
    4. Å ukasz Pisarczyk, 2023. "Uphill struggle: collective bargaining for the self-employed in Poland," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(4), pages 475-489, November.

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