The EU and industrial relations modernization: supranational state support for trade union and social partner modernization and social dialogue

AbstractThe article will show major dimensions in the experience of EU Member States that could be shared with the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. The framework of the study is the EU concept of trade unions in social dialogue and social partnership in the public sector. This study outlines the concept of social dialogue as a core element of industrial relations and will focus on industrial relations specifically in the public sector. The authors have elaborated the approach to industrial relations and social dialogue taking into account comparative approach to definitions provided by international institutions such as ILO and OECD, as well as institutions in the EU and Latvia. Latvia is also a case study for Eastern Partnership countries as these countries and their trade unions are in a transition period from socialist structures to structures that possess liberal economies. Trade unions in these countries are members of the International Trade Union Confederation. The major transformation that trade unions underwent from being part of the socialist system and becoming an independent institution since Latvia regained independence in 1991 has been studied. The paper discusses the current developments related to the position of Latvian Free Trade Union Federation in the system of decision-making process related to the public administration management. Finally, the prospective role of trade unions in the EU and in Latvia is analysed and possible revitalisation of trade union is discussed. This approach could be applied to the Eastern Partners of the EU.

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Challenges posed by the EU minimum wage initiative to the ETUC and European trade union cooperation

Transfer European Review of Labour and Research ◽

10.1177/1024258920945111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 325-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kristina Lovén Seldén

Keyword(s):

Minimum Wage ◽

Trade Union ◽

Industrial Relations ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Institutional Differences ◽

European Trade ◽

Institutional Contexts ◽

The Government ◽

Role Of The Government ◽

The Eu

This article addresses recent developments in the debate on a European minimum wage and tries to shed light on the Swedish standpoint, which from a European perspective might be difficult to comprehend. The article argues that even though the ETUC secretariat has tried to find a balance among the member organisations regarding the EU initiative on a fair minimum wage, it is far from enough from a Swedish and Nordic perspective. Issues such as how to approach collective bargaining, how to think about minimum wages and the role of the government in industrial relations cause problems when unions that operate in relatively diverse institutional contexts try to cooperate. It is therefore likely that the EU minimum wage will continue to be at the core of European trade union discussions in the coming years. At the same time, institutional differences between countries are not the only factors determining union cooperation in Europe. Contextual factors also matter.

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TRADE UNION AS A SOCIAL PARTNER IN IMPROVING PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS

SOCIETY INTEGRATION EDUCATION Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference ◽

10.17770/sie2019vol2.3920 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 106

Author(s):

Anda Grīnfelde ◽

Līga Paula ◽

Inga Vanaga

Keyword(s):

Trade Union ◽

Professional Support ◽

Educational Reforms ◽

Social Partner ◽

Political Debate ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Social Dialogue ◽

On Line ◽

Close Cooperation

Social dialogue involving all social partners is very important in shaping sectoral policies, therefore an implementation of educational reforms and their evaluation should take place in close cooperation between policy makers, employers' and workers' organizations. In 2018, within the context of current educational reforms in Latvia, the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees conducted an on-line survey of the teachers aiming to identify problems in teachers’ professional support. The survey indicated a gap between political debate and the reality faced by teachers in the process of implementation of reforms. The respondents acknowledged the role of the trade union in improving the professional support for teachers and emphasized its role in social dialogue to strengthen it. Although most of the teachers are satisfied with a professional support during introduction of competence-based educational content, respondents do not feel sufficiently involved in the planning and designing reforms. They believe that the needs of educators for the qualitative implementation of reforms are not being identified. Therefore, the trade union should focus on the protection of labour rights as well as the development of a professional support system and content of education policy.

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Europeanization through ‘procedures and practices’? The implementation of the telework and work-related stress agreements in the UK and Denmark

Transfer European Review of Labour and Research ◽

10.1177/1024258912458874 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 447-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thomas Prosser

Keyword(s):

Social Partner ◽

Work Related Stress ◽

Member States ◽

Social Dialogue ◽

Work Related ◽

Related Stress ◽

The Uk ◽

The Eu

The EU framework agreements on telework and work-related stress are non-legally binding European social partner framework agreements that were to be implemented in Member States in accordance with national ‘procedures and practices’ for social dialogue. In a study of the implementation of the agreements in Denmark and the UK, this article finds that the national ‘procedures and practices’ implementation clause was fragile and subject to misinterpretation by national actors, and that the implementation of the agreements added little in terms of substantive effect to policy contexts in Denmark and the UK.

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Workplace trade union engagement with European Works Councils and transnational agreements: The case of Volkswagen Europe

European Journal of Industrial Relations ◽

10.1177/1721727x17699444 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 397-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michael Whittall ◽

Miguel Martínez Lucio ◽

Stephen Mustchin ◽

Volker Telljohann ◽

Fernando Rocha Sánchez

Keyword(s):

Trade Union ◽

Trade Unions ◽

Industrial Relations ◽

Works Councils ◽

Social Dialogue ◽

Cross National

This article examines two transnational agreements signed by the Volkswagen European and Global Works Councils, considering their interlinked implementation within subsidiaries in Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany. We demonstrate differing stances and some uncertainty towards principles of co-management, social dialogue and codetermination. These agreements have improved local industrial relations and strengthened cross-national interaction between employee representatives, despite significant differences in orientation regarding how unions should engage with management. However, the emerging international framework has not led to a clear politics of incorporation, with local trade unions being well aware of the risks of co-management and a more business-oriented relationship.

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The establishing of a European industrial relations system

Employee Relations ◽

10.1108/er-07-2017-0151 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 600-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sergio González Begega ◽

Mona Aranea

Keyword(s):

Design Methodology ◽

Industrial Relations ◽

Member States ◽

Content Type ◽

Social Dialogue ◽

Political Processes ◽

Employee Representation ◽

Transnational Company ◽

The Eu ◽

Oriented Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine European Union (EU) industrial relations in their development over time. It describes and analyzes their main constituent parts, which are deployed along four interlinked institutional dimensions: tripartite concertation; cross-industry social dialogue; sectoral social dialogue; and employee representation and negotiation at the transnational company level. The focus lies strictly on the emerging EU layer of industrial relations, which is common to the different Member States and not on comparative European industrial relations. Design/methodology/approach The paper is conceptual in nature. It considers the differences and mutually interdependent legal and political processes, policies and institutions between EU industrial relations and national industrial relations. Findings The findings substantiate that EU industrial relations constitute an incomplete but perfectly traceable transnational reality distinct from industrial relations in the Member States. EU industrial relations are not to supersede but to supplement national industrial relations. Neither the EU institutional framework nor the European social partners have the mandate, legitimation or desire to perform a more ambitious role. Research limitations/implications More empirically oriented research would further support the findings in the paper. Originality/value The paper presents a conceptual review based on a comprehensive and critical reading of the literature on EU industrial relations. It also puts labor strategies at the forefront of the analysis in corporate relocation.

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Social Dialogue in Public Sector Reflection about Hungarian and Slovenian approach

Central European Public Administration Review ◽

10.17573/cepar.v6i2.108 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Zvone Vodovnik ◽

Aniko Noemi Turi

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Industrial Relations ◽

Eu Enlargement ◽

The European Union ◽

Member States ◽

Social Dialogue ◽

The Social ◽

Legislative Activities ◽

Sustainable Economic Growth ◽

The Eu

The process of last years expended enlargement of the European Union leads EU governmental bodies towards enacting new European documents. These documents must be considered as legal bases for making the EU the most dynamic and competitive economy in the world being capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. In the area of the EU legislation the social dialogue must be regarded as an important issue. For time being the EU documents regulate some elements of social dialogue in private sector however, the social dialogue in public sector is still outside of the EU regulation. The paper elaborates a comparative view between two Member States such as Hungary and Slovenia by exploring and analyzing EU industrial relations, and the relationship between the industrial relations of these Member States. It is evident that the EU enlargement has further increased this diversity, and the EU industrial relations in many parts distinguish from national industrial relations. This article analyses the process of the legislative activities at the EU legislative bodies, as well as in the national legislations of Hungary and Slovenia. It emphasizes also the concept of EU industrial relations and shows, which are the frames of the social dialogue in public sector of Hungary and Slovenia.

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The role of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in building a system of industrial relations at EU level

Transfer European Review of Labour and Research ◽

10.1177/102425890300900205 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 209-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Brian Bercusson

Keyword(s):

Trade Union ◽

Industrial Relations ◽

Fundamental Rights ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

The European Union ◽

European Court ◽

Charter Of Fundamental Rights ◽

History Of ◽

The Eu

This article explores the potential contribution of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to building a system of industrial relations at EU level, in particular, by introducing fundamental trade union rights into the legal order of the European Union. The first part of the article describes the role of the EU Charter in the context of the history of European integration. The second part explores the legal prospects of the EU Charter as a political declaration and if it is incorporated into the Treaty. The role of the European Court of Justice in developing the fundamental trade union rights provided in the Charter is analysed and the potential scope of these rights in the context of an EU system of industrial relations is examined. The third part of the article explores the potential of the EU Charter to act as a catalyst by stimulating initiatives for measures implementing Charter rights which would support a system of industrial relations system at EU level. Two central issues are analysed. First, the scope of EU competences to create a system of industrial relations at EU level and, secondly, the institutional framework for such a system of industrial relations at EU level.

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Promoting constructive social dialogue: Third party assistance in conflictive industrial relations

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e571292013-007 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Euwema ◽

Patricia Elgoibar ◽

Ana Belen Garcia ◽

Aurelien Colson ◽

Patricia Elgoibar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Industrial Relations ◽

Third Party ◽

Social Dialogue

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Experimentalism as a Tool of Economic Innovation in Germany

German Politics & Society ◽

10.3167/104503001782486362 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 1-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wade Jacoby ◽

Martin Behrens

Keyword(s):

Industrial Relations ◽

Information Gathering ◽

Wage Bargaining ◽

The Other ◽

Social Partner ◽

Social Actor ◽

Comparative Political Economy ◽

System A ◽

German Model ◽

Economic Innovation

Our purpose in this article is to analyze changes in the German wagebargaining system, a system that has attracted enormous attentionfrom scholars of comparative political economy and comparativeindustrial relations. We argue that the wage bargaining portion ofthe German model is neither frozen in place, headed for deregulation,nor merely “muddling through.” Rather, we see the institutionalcapacities of the key actors—especially the unions and employerassociations—making possible a process we term “experimentalism.”In briefest form, experimentalism allows organizations that combinedecentralized information-gathering abilities with centralized decision-making capacity to probe for new possibilities, which, oncefound, can be quickly diffused throughout the organization. We willshow that the capacity for such experimentalism varies across actorsand sectors. And, to make things even tougher, neither major Germansocial actor can sustain innovation in the longer term withoutbringing along the other “social partner.”

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