Documents Tóth, András 18 results

"This article deals with the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on transformation processes in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Our specific interest is in the effects of FDI on the organisation of work and labour relations at the enterprise level; in a more general sense we are concerned with the contribution of FDI to the creation of the microeconomic foundation essential to functioning market economies. We hold that there is a discernible process of selective harmonisation taking place between outside influences and existing domestic factors. In this context we postulate that the importance of FDI is further enhanced by influencing a broad array of societal transformation processes beyond the enterprise itself, thus contributing to a process which could develop into what we have labelled a European-style environment. Admittedly, the outcome can as yet only be rudimentarily defined, especially since a European-style environment, as a point of reference, is itself currently undergoing continuous change. But we hypothesise that it will be a process which reflects to varying degrees both the endogenous and exogenous sources of its making."

"This article examines the emergence of the new Hungarian industrial relations system and the experiences of Hungarian trade unions in adapting themselves to the challenges of political democracy and the market economy. The article first outlines the historical legacy of trade unions and the industrial relations system. It then describes the dramatic changes which occurred in the wake of the transition of the late eighties-early nineties. After discussing the emerging crisis of the industrial relations system, it describes the attempts to reshape the system and the role of unions through the re-legislation of the Labour Code in order to facilitate the emergence of a stable system which conforms to European norms. Finally, the article evaluates the impact of the new legal regulation on the industrial relations system. In the Conclusion, the article argues that, although the open crisis of the national industrial relations system has been resolved in the early nineties, there is a ‘silent crisis' still going on."

"The post-socialist industrial relations system has practically collapsed in Hungary as a consequence of the deep and long economic, political and ethical crisis following the credit crunch, which begun in Hungary in summer 2006. One may argue that this collapse was preceded by a protracted weakening and decomposition of the main actors, especially the trade unions. This article, however, argues that the collapse was brought about by the political strategy of the government elected in 2010. The government has proceeded to destroy the post-socialist industrial relations system in order to remove a potential veto-point, a checking power on government actions, in the drive to re-organise the country. Moreover, the government also intends to nudge a new system, partially by supporting those actors close to it and partially by creating new institutions. The goal is that the new system would be the partner of the government in the re-organisation of the country and provide a kind of democratic legitimacy to government policies. We should note, however, that such efforts are also speeding up the decomposition of those actors preferred by the government. "

"The introductory chapter presents analytical strands of the theoretical framework for transformation processes, and links them to the most important challenges facing societies and trade unions in the CEE accession countries on their way to EU membership. It identifies five interrelated processes which have been shaping the post-socialist development of the CEE accession countries, and which are pushing these countries along their course to join the EU. Firstly, the path taken by democratisation and the subsequent stabilisation of new democracies; secondly, the success of economic restructuring and the integration of national economies into the global and the EU economy; thirdly, the restructuring of the social sector to compensate for market failures; fourthly, the role of trade unions and industrial relations in imposing constraints on market forces and defending the interests of working people; and finally the EU approximation process, i.e. the very process of convergence to the EU acquis, which is helping to determine the speed, quality and targeting of transformation processes in conformity with the requirements of future EU membership."

"Relocations within an enlarged Europe are often portrayed as an unavoidable destiny or irresistible threat for workers. The article outlines a number of contingent factors which determine how serious are the threats and how feasible is an effective union response. Such factors are then tested through in-depth case studies of 12 plants in the automotive components sector (where cross-border competition is particularly strong), showing how varied can be the scenarios for industrial relations in multinational companies."