Trade unions, immigration and immigrants in Europe revisited: Unions’ attitudes and actions under new conditions

Stefania Marino,Judith Roosblad,Rinus Penninx

doi:10.1007/s40878-015-0003-x

Stefania Marino, Judith Roosblad + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40878-015-0003-x

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper revisits the comparative approach used by Penninx and Roosblad (Trade Unions, Immigration and Immigrants in Europe, 1960-1993. New York: Berghahn Books) to study trade unions’ attitudes and actions in relation to immigrant workers in seven Western European countries. It reassesses that approach and asks whether it remains valid, as economic, social, and political circumstances nowadays seem fundamentally different from those two to five decades ago. Each element of the original conceptual and explanatory frame is reassessed and its suitability weighed for an updated comparative study. The reassessment combines insights from migration studies with findings from the field of industrial relations. The latter highlight internal union variables in explaining trade unions’ attitudes and actions, while the former underline trade unions’ role as social and political actors in defending migrant rights.

Highlights

Migration has become a controversial issue in most European countries
The dilemma nowadays is whether trade unions, as social and political actors, should try to influence regulations on immigration and migrant workers’ access to labour markets by opposing or supporting government policies on immigration and integration
This article critically re-examined the descriptive and explanatory framework used in an earlier comparative exercise (Penninx and Roosblad, 2000) in light of contextual changes and recent empirical research. It concludes that all three dilemmas are still valid, albeit with a somewhat different and wider interpretation in light of the changed context in which trade unions operate

Summary

Introduction

Migration has become a controversial issue in most European countries. Immigrants are often blamed for society’s problems. The changing context for European trade unions and immigrant integration, 1993-2013 Penninx and Roosblad (2000) centres on the post-war guest-worker system in North-Western Europe and its aftermath until the early 1990s.

Results

Conclusion