European Collective Bargaining Research Articles

European Collective Bargaining: A Virtual Prospect?

Recent developments in the EU have given renewed impetus to the prospect of European‐level collective bargaining. Greater divergence within national systems of industrial relations alongside the emergence of European‐level structures is reflected in the emergence of nascent forms of European collective bargaining at three levels: interprofessional, sector and Euro‐company. Best described as ‘virtual collective bargaining’, these embrace two processes: the conclusion of ‘framework agreements’ or ‘joint opinions’ which establish bargaining parameters for national‐level actors; and ‘arms length’ bargaining, where the parties do not negotiate directly, but where bargaining outcomes are increasingly anticipated and co‐ordinated across countries. EMU is likely to accelerate these processes.

Contours of a European collective bargaining system under EMU

Contours of a European collective bargaining system under EMU

European Collective Bargaining and Posted Workers – Comments on Directive 96/71/EC

European Collective Bargaining and Posted Workers – Comments on Directive 96/71/EC

Collective bargaining in the European building industry - European collective bargaining?

One aim of the project entitled "European collective bargaining in the building industry" (a joint initiative by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the German trade union IG Bau and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers- EFBWW) is to investigate what steps are necessary to achieve better coordination of collective bargaining policy in this sector. The building workers' trade unions in Europe continue to differ concerning the extent to which they believe such coordination should lead to common positions, common claims or collective agreements in Europe. The project will examine the collective bargaining systems currently in operation in the building sector in Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. This article describes, on the basis of the project findings to date, the difficulties and obstacles which beset the coordination of collective bargaining policy in Europe.

European trade union policy and collective bargaining- mechanisms and levels of labour market regulation in comparison

The trade unions' collective bargaining policy must safeguard the working conditions of all workers who are competing with each other on the labour market. Two basic, alternative mechanisms are available to this end: (1) the collective agreement may be signed at a level which covers all the relevant employees; or (2) several collective agreements may be signed at a lower level and coordinated so as to enable an equivalent settlement of working conditions for all the employees concerned. This analysis examines the prospects for setting up a European collective bargaining system. It considers, first of all, the institutional and organisational factors that will influence the development of such a system. Secondly, it assesses which collective bargaining policy mechanisms and levels would, within the prevailing context, be most appropriate for a Europe-wide regulation of the labour market.

Radical change in the European woodworking industry: consequences for the workforce and their trade unions

In the context of an examination of the employment situation in the European woodworking industry, the author argues the need for the trade unions to adopt a stronger European bias in the formulation of their policy demands. The structural difficulties affecting the woodworking industry are such that the volume of employment is not even going to stabilise in the long term, let alone improve. The new distribution of labour between western Europe and the production sites of central and eastern Europe places further new demands on the trade unions. This contribution argues the need for more effective coordination of the trade unions' policies on Europe. It is first of all necessary, to this end, that the trade unions surmount their internal difficulties at national level, for only then will stronger European commitment become a real possibility. In the past Europe has too often been regarded as an "add-on" construction rather than an integrative process. Accordingly, there is a need for serious efforts to bring into being a European collective bargaining policy, but few such efforts are in sight. Turning to consider developments at the level of the multinationals, the author points out that the activity of the European works councils must be fleshed out if workers are to be enabled to identify with these bodies. Finally, as a traditional sector located close to nature, the woodworking sector is eminently well-placed to embark upon a trade union "ecological offensive".

Prospects for corporatist decision‐making in the European union: The social policy agreement

Abstract Setting out the legal framework for European collective bargaining, the Social Policy Agreement appended to the Maastricht Treaty appears to introduce some corporatist characteristics to the Union policy process. This article explores whether this legal framework really does represent a sufficient basis for introducing a new, corporatist policy formation mode at the European level. The main conclusion is that the existing infrastructure of organized management and labour at the European level, as well as that of the European Union (EU) institutions concerned, does not provide the appropriate institutional set‐up for corporatist policy partnership formalized by the Maastricht Social Annex. Nevertheless, the Agreement is not without utility. If its ‘reflexive potential’ (i.e. its capability to shape European collective bargaining by defining procedural norms and limiting or expanding the competences of the social partners) is taken into account, the Agreement can be regarded as a framework under wh...

European Collective Bargaining: A Triumph of the Will?

European Collective Bargaining: A Triumph of the Will?