| Abstract [eng] |
These characteristics point to several labour market-related problems: low minimum and average wages and a correspondingly low level of consumption and living standards; low incentive to work; high rates of emigration to countries with higher living standards and a resulting scarcity of skilled labour; and the presence of the shadow economy. An unbalanced character of economic development and a disregard for social targets have negatively infl uenced employment and unemployment indicators. The unemployment rate was 5.9 per cent in 2008, having peaked at 15 per cent during the crisis and, in 2014, it still stood at 10.9 per cent. This indicates as low labour market recovery from the economic downturn given that GDP growth had already resumed in 2011. In addition, Lithuania is characterised by poorly-developed social dialogue and a relatively low level of collective bargaining coverage. In 2015, trade union density in Lithuania was less than 8 per cent, while employer organisation density stood around 17 per cent (Statistics Lithuania 2016). According to the ICTWSS database (Visser 2016), the collective bargaining coverage rate in 2012 was only 9 per cent. This chapter shows that, despite their limited human and fi nancial resources, Lithuanian trade unions have not only survived the economic downturn but have also strengthened their positions in some areas compared to the pre-crisis period. Aware of their weak positions at company and sectoral levels, unions focused mainly on nationallevel actions and cooperated with their counterparts from other confederations, foreign trade unions, employers, civil society and international organisations. In this capacity, they succeeded in organising a protest campaign on a previously unseen scale; had trade union representatives appointed to the Parliament and the government; concluded a tripartite National Agreement; extended the competences of the main national social dialogue institution; and fostered the establishment of regional tripartite councils. They also managed to increase awareness of trade union activities through increased media presence and extended their outreach to previously non-unionised sectors and population groups. 112 Innovative union practices in Central-Eastern Europe The chapter is structured as follows. Section one provides an overview of social dialogue and industrial relations developments in Lithuania. Special attention is paid to the company and national-level social dialogue as well as to the situation of trade unions during the recent economic crisis. Section two examines innovative union practices pursued by Lithuanian trade unions during and after the downturn. This is followed by a short summary of the initiatives and conclusions. |
