Research reports
COMPASS: Critical Education and Trade Unions: Episodes from a Rich History of Political Education of the Labour Movement in Europe
COMPASS: Critical Education and Trade Unions: Episodes from a Rich History of Political Education of the Labour Movement in Europe
Authors:
Meszmann, T.
,
Šumichrast, A.
and
Lenaerts, K.
Published: November 2026
Abstract:
This document presents Deliverable 2.2 of the Compass project, based on historical case studies, with the aim to contextualise the educational activities of unions in the countries in scope of the project, and to highlight the roots of democratic education within the trade union movement. It aims to illustrate the emergence of the trade union education role at the beginning of the mass labour movement and trace its development, connecting it with today’s understanding of the concept of critical pedagogy.
The report explores how early trade union education activities contributed to shaping political awareness and democratic participation among workers, and how these historical practices resonate with or diverge from current ideas of political education.
In addition to providing general contextualisation, cases focus on a selected example of a trade union educational institution — or a long-term educational initiative — that was specifically dedicated to educational and political-ideological training. This focus allows examine the ways in which trade union education was used as a tool for political formation, democratic empowerment, and social transformation.
