Czech Republic. While the numbers of employees who are members of trade unions in the Czech Republic are high compared to most other countries, this number has been steadily declining since the early 1990s. In 1990, more than 80% of workers in the Czech Republic were trade union members. In 2004, the number had decreased to 22%.99 Part of this decrease is probably due to the continuing transformation of the economy of the Czech Republic from a state-controlled economy (as part of the Soviet bloc) to an open economy vying for its place in world markets. Unions are fighting back, trying to recruit new mem-bers from the worker ranks, but have so far had limited success. The country's trade unions are also currently fighting amendments to the labor code, which could weaken the unions' position as negotiators for workers in the country.10°