| Abstract [eng] |
To sum up the information provided by the representatives of trade unions, it can be concluded that Lithuania’s accession to the EU had a positive impact and intensified trade unions’ activities at all levels. Western colleagues had greatly contributed to the training and education of Lithuanian trade unions and provided various sorts of assistance already prior to the EU accession. Following the Lithuania’s accession, there was a certain distance between Western and Eastern trade unions, as Western colleagues looked at their Eastern partners with some caution; they wanted to know them better, to understand their situation and capabilities. Several years later, however, Lithuanian trade unions said to have been equal participants in cooperation processes and relations – representatives of Eastern trade unions have been active in various international committees, commissions and working groups, and have been elected to leadership positions. According to trade union representatives, geographical differences between trade unions decreased over time, but value-based and sectoral differences became more pronounced. Divergences in values include LGBT-related issues, trade unions’ standpoints on immigrants/refugees from third countries, and climate change. Sector-based differences in the standpoints appear to be particularly strong (e.g. in the construction, transport, food sector) with trade unions being more likely to be in solidarity with their sector employers than with other trade unions. Trade union representatives also noted that trade unions representing richer Western and/or Scandinavian countries are reluctant to discuss social security and wage standardisation. |
