Trade union education and democratic participation : the case of Malta

Abstract

This chapter focuses on a longitudinal survey of the trade union education (TUE) programmes organized by Malta's largest trade union – the general workers' union – over the years since its establishment. It argues that partially reflecting the traditional 'paternalist' culture, TUE was 'transformative' to the extent that it aimed at overcoming the traditional workers' subculture of 'compliance with paternalism'. The chapter suggests that the future development and effectiveness of the trade union require a more proactive and 'transformative' TUE role to be played. It also argues that the traditional, indirect forms of democratic participation through collective bargaining and the direct forms are indeed complementary and mutually reinforcing. One main characteristic of TUE methodology should be the use of both a formal and informal learning context and strategy. The survival of organizations like trade unions, their effectiveness and development require the realization of both 'cultural reproduction' and 'cultural transformation'.