Local bargaining and codetermination: Finnish experience in comparative perspective

Abstract

The decentralization of collective bargaining raises important issues, especially in the Nordic countries, where collective bargaining is centralized at industry level. These countries also have a ‘single channel’ of representation through trade union structures at both national and workplace levels, in contrast to much of Europe where there is a formal separation between works councils (as bodies for consultation and codetermination) and trade unions (as bodies for collective bargaining). This article reports research findings from Finland, where strong union branches have better capabilities in conducting the simultaneous tasks. If unions cannot actively develop the agenda for local bargaining, further experimentation in joint consultation can be expected, and this will provide a real test for the authority of local unions. The findings have broader implications for Nordic industrial relations.