ABSTRACT

Conceptualizing solidarity as an action, as a particular type of behaviour, implies that the choices of actors should be in the centre of analysis. The choices of actors are particularly interesting when a possible conflict between two options – competitive versus transnational solidarity – is at stake. Investigation of such situations will shed more light on the reasons why the trade unions choose transnational solidarity and what mechanisms bring them to do so. Moreover, transnational solidarity is by no means an obvious course of action for the trade unions, as my case studies will illustrate. Therefore, it is not only worthwhile to analyze the positive cases of transnational solidarity, but the whole process of change towards it as well. Generalizing on the processes can enrich our understanding of future developments and trends. In the following I will describe four cases of solidarity or change towards

solidarity, which then provide the empirical base for further analysis: 1) participation of Polish trade unions in European demonstrations against the liberal version of the Service Directive, which was designed to liberalize markets and interpreted as advantageous for the Polish workers; 2) problems of Polish-German trade union cooperation, which evolved over time towards more understanding and solidarity; 3) in the precedent Laval case, which was reported to reflect the tension between free movement of labour and competition and the national social standards and its impact on the relations between the Latvian and Swedish trade unions; 4) cooperation among plant representatives of a multinational company under competition. In the description of the cases, the situation – the context of the decision – will be described to arrive at an understanding of the dilemmas facing trade unions and the possibility of alternative trade union choice in this situation. In the fourth case this will be partly illustrated by highlighting the differences between the countries and reference to the literature on the obstacles to cooperation in the European Works Councils. Partly the description of the beginnings of cooperation will illustrate that transnational solidarity was not an automatic reaction but one that developed over time. These four stories will be extended in the following chapters by analysis of the mechanisms that brought about the outcomes.