![Sample our Politics & International Relations journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5947/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Politics-International-Relations.jpg"})
Abstract
Poland's European Union accession afforded Polish trade unions membership of European-wide, umbrella trade union organisations. This essay evaluates the strategies Polish trade unions adopted to represent their interests following Poland's accession to the European Union. It draws on a series of interviews and document analysis. In addition the essay seeks to gauge the extent to which Polish trade unions were ‘Europeanised’, understood in both the context of their adoption of European policy models and their ability to win support for their causes at the European level.
Notes
This work was supported by the Otto Brenner Foundation.
1 The EU climate change and energy package reflects commitments put forward in 2007 to meet the ‘20–20–20 targets’ reflecting three key objectives for 2020: a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels; raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20%; and a 20% improvement in the EU's energy efficiency. For details, see: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/package/, accessed 12 January 2014.
2 This article is partially based on results of the survey research, ‘Already arrived in Brussels? The representation of the interests of trade unions from the new EU member states at the EU level’, conducted by the Research Centre for East European Studies, Bremen in collaboration with the Sociological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Sociological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Koszalin Institute of Comparative European Studies (KICES). The project was financed by the Otto Brenner Foundation (Frankfurt/Main). The complete results of this research project can be found in Kusznir and Pleines (Citation2008) and the complete results for the Polish case study can be found in Einbock and Lis (Citation2007).
3 Two interviews were carried out with representatives of Solidarity (Solidarność). The interview with representative 1 from Solidarity (Expert in the International Department in Solidarność) was conducted in Gdańsk, 28 June 2007. The interview with representative 2 from Solidarity (Head of the International Department in Solidarność and the EESC member) was conducted in Gdańsk, 9 July 2007. Two interviews were carried out in the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (Ogólnopolskie Porozumienie Zwięzków Zawodowych—OPZZ). The interview with representative 1 from OPZZ (Vice-President of OPZZ) was conducted in Warsaw, 5 July 2007. The interview with representative 2 of OPZZ (Senior Expert in the Team for International Affairs and European Integration and a member of EESC) was conducted in Warsaw, 5 July 2007. Two interviews were carried out in the Trade Unions Forum (Forum Zwięzków Zawodowych—FZZ). The interview with representative 1 from FZZ (Vice-President of FZZ) was conducted in Warsaw, 6 September 2007. The interview with representative 2 from FZZ (Head of the Expert Team and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) member) was conducted in Bydgoszcz, 3 July 2007. Two interviews were carried out in the Federation of Metalworking Trade Unions (Metalowcy). The interview with representative 1 from Metalowcy (President) was conducted in Warsaw, 3 August 2007. The interview with representative 2 from Metalowcy (Vice-President) was conducted in Poznań, 30 July 2007. Two were carried out in the Miners' Trade Union in Poland (Zwiazek Zawodowy Górników—ZZG). The interview with representative 1 from ZZG (President) was conducted in Warsaw, 24 July 2007. The interview with representative 2 from ZZG (Vice-President) was conducted by phone, 24 August 2007.
4 Four interviews were carried out with Solidarity in Gdańsk. Interview with representative 2 from Solidarity (Head of the International Department in Solidarność and the EESC member) was conducted in Gdańsk, 7 November 2008. Three interviews with representative 3 from Solidarność (Expert in Health and Safety) were conducted in Gdańsk, 17 November 2008, 12 February 2009 and 1 October 2009. Two interviews were conducted with representative 1 (President) from the Mining and Energy Secretariat of Solidarity (SGiE Solidarity) in Warsaw, 22 October 2008 and by phone, 17 January 2009. One interview was conducted with representative 1 (President) from the National Section of the Hard Coal Mining of Solidarity (SKGWK Solidarity) by phone, 24 October 2008. One interview with representative 1 (President) from the National Section of the Brown Coal Mining of Solidarity (SKGWB Solidarity) was conducted by phone, 26 January 2008. One interview with representative 1 (President) from the Association of the Energy Trade Unions (ZZZE), which is a member organisation of OPZZ, was conducted in Warsaw, 6 February 2009. One interview with representative 1 from ZZG was conducted by phone, 23 February 2009. Five interviews with representatives of five trade unions in the Elektrownia Bełchatów (five Presidents) were carried out in Bełchatów, 26 May 2009. Seven interviews were carried out in Brussels and by phone. Two interviews were carried out in ETUC. Interview with representative 1 from ETUC (Senior Advisor) was conducted in Brussels, 6 April 2009. Interview with representative 2 from ETUC (Senior Advisor and the Leader of the ETUC Working Group on Sustainable Development) was conducted in Brussels, 2 July 2009. One interview with representative 1 from EPSU (President) was conducted in Brussels, 23 June 2009. Two interviews were carried out in EMCEF. Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF (Senior Advisor) was conducted in Brussels, 24 June 2009. Interview with representative 2 from EMCEF (President) was conducted by phone, 12 August 2009. One interview with representative 1 from IGBCE (Senior Advisor) was conducted by phone, 4 August 2009. One interview with representative 1 from ICEM (Senior Advisor) was conducted by phone, 15 November 2010.
5 Interview with representative 2 from Metalowcy, Poznań, 30 July 2007.
6 Interviews with representative 1 from ZZG (President), Warsaw, 24 July 2007, and with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
7 Interview with representative 3 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 17 November 2008.
8 Interview with representative 2 from FZZ, Bydgoszcz, 3 July 2007.
9 Interview with representative 1 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 28 June 2007.
10 Interview with representative 1 from OPZZ, Warsaw, 5 July 2007.
11 Interview with representative 2 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 28 June 2007.
12 Interview with representative 2 from Metalowcy, Poznań, 30 July 2007.
13 Interview with representative 2 from OPZZ, Warsaw, 5 July 2007.
14 Interview with representative 2 from Metalowcy, Warsaw, 3 August 2007.
15ETUC's Position on the Climate Change and Energy Package: Position Adopted by the Executive Committee of the ETUC at its Meeting of 4 March in Brussels (EC. 179), available at: http://www.etuc.org/IMG/pdf/Paquet_ETUCposition_EN4-5-03-08.pdf, accessed 12 January 2014.
16 Interview with representative 3 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 17 November 2008.
17 Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC.
18 Interview with representative 3 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 17 November 2008.
19 Interview with representative 3 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 12 February 2009.
20 Interview with representative 3 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 12 February 2009.
21 Interview with representative 3 from Solidarity, Gdańsk, 12 February 2009.
22 Interview with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
23 Interview with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
24 ‘Position Regarding a Proposal of the European Commission known as the Climate and Energy Package’, The Tripartite Commission for the Mine Workers Social Security, Katowice, 30 July 2008. Document provided to the author by Solidarity representatives.
25 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 24 June 2009.
26 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 24 June 2009.
27 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, 24 June 2009.
28 ‘Pikieta w Brukseli’, in Sekretariat Górnictwa i Energetyki: Informacje, 26 September 2008, available at: http://www.sgie.pl/aktualnosci,5,99.html, accessed 28 September 2008.
29 ‘Position of the Coordination Office of EMCEF-Poland about the Climate and Energy Package, October 2008’, Coordination Council EMCEF, Katowice, 7 October 2008 (document provided to the author by SGiE).
30 Interview with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
31 Interview with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
32 ‘Position 10 of the XXII National Congress of Solidarność concerning the Climate Change and Energy Package’, The National Congress of NSZZ Solidarność, Wadowice, October 2008 (document provided to the author by Solidarity).
33 Interview with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
34 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 28 June 2009.
35 ‘Appeal to the European Commission to Launch Negotiations with the Social Partners about the Climate and Energy Package’, Coordination Office of EMCEF Poland, 13 November 2008.
36 ‘Appeal to the European Commission to Launch Negotiations with the Social Partners about the Climate and Energy Package’, Coordination Office of EMCEF Poland, 13 November 2008.
37 Telephone interview with representative 1 from SGiE, 17 January 2009.
38 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 24 June 2009.
39 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 24 June 2009.
40 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 24 June 2009.
41 Interview with representative 1 from EMCEF, Brussels, 24 June 2009.
42 Interview with representative 1 from SGiE, Warsaw, 22 October 2008.
43 Telephone interview with representative 1 from ZZG, 23 February 2009.