European integration in trade union

"Magazyn", monthly of "Solidarnosc" conducted a research within the framework of PHARE: European Union programme. The results say that trade unionists have positive attitude towards the integration of Poland with the EU. Over 70% of the respondents would support the idea in a referendum in this matter. 21% remain uncertain, and 5.5% were against the integration. It can be said that trade unionists are very interested in the issue of European integration.

Despite so strong pro-European trends there is a big uncertainty about the changes in personal lives of the respondents. 51% of them, when asked about the benefits and losses chose the option "difficult to say". 31% rather expected benefits, 11% took the opposite option. When in comes to general benefits, 39% of the respondents claimed that both Poland and the EU will benefit from integration, and 29% stated that the EU will gain more.

The unionists expect many changes, not always good ones, but the majority expects changes for better. According to the respondents the improvement will be noted in quality of polish goods (79%), environment protection (75%), situation of young people (61%). No changes will be noted in the situation of pensioners (62%), situation of women (56%) and the culture and education level (50%). Worsening of situation is expected in social benefits (19%), labour market (19%) and public safety (16%).

Among the positive results of the integration the most often mentioned were access to new technologies, free travelling and financial support for local governments. The respondents are afraid of worsening of the situation in Polish agriculture; buying the land by foreigners, increase of unemployment and sale of polish industry.

The research also included a series of questions on the role of trade unions in the EU. 35% of the respondents said that trade unions have big influence on legal and economic situation of a worker. The unionists are of the opinion that the integration will make it easier to work the implementation of European standards of work and remuneration (70%) and that the unions will be more professional (66%). Small organisations are expected to loose their meaning for bigger ones (68%) and the unions are expected not to engage in political activities. The respondents stated that the main goals facing our union are fighting unemployment, improvement of working conditions and equalisation of workers' rights across all of Europe.

More specific information will be available after a seminar ending the programme "European Union: opportunities and challenges" in September.

VI.2002