Institutions matter: Union solidarity in Hungary and east Germany

This study examines the extent of union solidarity in two post-communist co untries, Hungary and east Germany. It tests the hypothesis that postcommuni st union members are sceptical and unsupportive of their new interest repre sentation owing to a legacy of disappointing experiences with their former communist unions. A survey of the union members, the first of its kind, in the Hungarian and east German clothing industry revealed strong differences between members' attitudes in both countries: east Germans were highly com mitted and supportive of their new union and works councils, whereas Hungar ians lacked support for their institutions. The study points to the complex ities of former and current attitudes and rejects the generic use of a comm unist legacy thesis. Instead, it links members' attitudes to the different institutional context of interest representation in the two countries. It a rgues that the dual system of interest representation in Germany facilitate s members' trust in their new institutions, whereas the decentralized, over lapping institutions on Hungarian shop-floors impede union solidarity.