scholarly journals THE ITALIAN WAY TO INTERNAL DEVALUATION AND SOCIAL ACTORS’ STRATEGIES AGAINST AUSTERITY AND THE FLEXIBILIZATION OF THE LABOUR MARKET

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-151
Author(s):  
Giulia Giulia ◽  
Giovanni Orlandini
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Employment Contracts ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Labour Costs ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Union Action

Introduction: the Italian way to internal devaluation; 1.a Precarization of labour and weakening of trade union action at company level (amendment of dismissal law); 1.b Circumvention of the CCNL by means of exceptional employment contracts; 1.c Downward competition on labour costs by means of outsourcing and value chains; 1.d Promotion of decentralized collective bargaining and its power to derogate from the law and freezing of collective bargaining in the public sector; 2. The trade union(s) strategies; 2.a Bargaining strategy; 2.b Judicial strategy; 2.c Confrontational strategy; 3. New challenges for workers and new challenges for their organization(s); 3.a Italian trade unions’ strategies; 3.b Alternative experiences of (and in favour of) precarious workers; 4. Anti-austerity protests: the involvement of trade unions and social movements; 5. Concluding remarks; Bibliography.

scholarly journals The changing face of union action put to the test by neo-liberal reforms in France

Tempo Social ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-156
Author(s):  
Baptiste Giraud
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Union Action ◽  
The Relationship

This article reviews how French trade union are coping with the neo-liberal policies since the early 1980s. It shows their divergent reactions, and how these liberal reforms are implemented in a context of transformation of trade union action: the use of strikes is more difficult at the same time as the relationship between trade unions and collective bargaining is transformed in a logic of depoliticizing their strategies of action. These developments did not prevent a resurgence of strikes in the 2000s. It reveals the limits of the trade unions’ power of political influence, that implies the use of collective action. However, strikes have declined further in recent years, revealing the weakening of trade union mobilisation power.

scholarly journals Guaranteed Minimum Income: New Spaces for Trade Union Action

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-127
Author(s):  
Eusebi Colàs-Neila ◽  
Josep Fargas
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Minimum Wages ◽  
Labour Law ◽  
Common Trends ◽  
Minimum Income ◽  
Union Action ◽  
Guaranteed Minimum Income

Trade unions have developed a very important role guaranteeing minimum incomes through collective bargaining. However, after the last Great Recession and austerity policies imposed by the Troika on many countries, among which Spain, the traditional mechanism of fixing minimum wages has become less effective on many occasions. Nonetheless, it has been argued that trade unions are following various new paths in order to guarantee minimum wages, both in Spain and in comparative labour law, and these share several common trends. This paper aims to analyse these paths and which convergences in trade union practices and strategies can be detected in this field. Los sindicatos han desarrollado un papel muy importante en garantizar ingresos mínimos a través de la negociación colectiva. No obstante, tras la gran recesión y las políticas de austeridad impuestas por la Troika a muchos países, entre ellos España, el mecanismo tradicional de fijación de salarios mínimos ha sido menos eficaz en muchas ocasiones. A pesar de ello, se sostiene que los sindicatos están siguiendo diversos nuevos caminos para garantizar ingresos mínimos, tanto en España como en el derecho del trabajo comparado, que comparten muchas tendencias comunes. Este artículo se centra en analizar esas vías y las convergencias en las prácticas y estrategias de los sindicatos en este terreno.

scholarly journals The Saskatchewan Trade Union Act. 1983: The Public Battle

2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Sass
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government

This article reviews Labour's response to the Amendments, and concludes that the new amendments to The Trade Union Act indicate that the Government of the day leans more towards management's objectives than those of trade unions with regard to collective bargaining.

Legal Expertise: A Critical Resource for Trade Unionists? Insights into the Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Guillaume
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Institutional Power ◽  
Collective Redress ◽  
Critical Resource ◽  
The Law ◽  
Legal Expertise

Abstract Based on in-depth qualitative research conducted in one of the major French trade unions (the CFDT), this article explores to what extent and under what conditions trade unions adopt different legal practices to further their members’ interests. In particular, it investigates how ‘legal framing’ has taken an increasingly pervasive place in trade union work, in increasingly decentralised industrial relations contexts, such as France. This article therefore argues that the use of the law has become a multifaceted and embedded repertoire of action for the CFDT in its attempt to consolidate its institutional power through various strategies, including collective redress and the use of legal expertise in collective bargaining and representation work.

scholarly journals Trade Union Practices in the EU and Latvia: Experience for Eastern Partnership Countries

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-118
Author(s):  
Sergejs Stacenko ◽  
Biruta Sloka
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Eastern Partnership ◽  
The Public ◽  
Social Dialogue ◽  
Eastern Partnership Countries ◽  
The Eu

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.

scholarly journals La participación de los trabajadores en materia de prevención de riesgos laborales

2009 ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
María Purificación García Miguélez
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
The Public ◽  
Prevention Activities ◽  
The Right ◽  
Private Domain

El derecho de participación reconocido a los trabajadores para la organización y planificación de las actividades de prevención en las empresas entraña una estructura compleja en diferentes ámbitos. En primer lugar, respecto al dominio privado e interno, integrado por una participación directa e individualizada de los trabajadores en entidades de plantillas reducidas, o un procedimiento indirecto, colectivo o representativo, en el caso de empresas con un número suficiente de trabajadores para elegir representantes (tanto a través de una representación general -unitaria o sindical- como de una especializada -delegados de prevención y comité de seguridad y salud-). Son analizados tanto el aspecto "orgánico" (esto es, los órganos representativos precisos para un correcto ejercicio) como el "funcional" (es decir,las facultades y competencias a desempeñar), así como las diferencias para ejercer los derechos de información y de consulta, todo ello a fin determinar el órgano de representación más idóneo en cada caso. En segundo lugar, y en relación con el marco de actuación público, el derecho puede ser denominado de participación representativa e institucional, pues es llevada a cabo en diferentes órganos administrativos y fundaciones sectoriales, siendo los sindicatos más representativos responsables de su correcto ejercicio.<br /><br />The right that is recognized to workers in order to participate in the organization and planning of prevention activities in enterprises entails a complex structure related to different scopes. Firstly, related to the internal and private domain, consisting in a direct and individualized participation of workers in those entities of small size in staff, or an indirect, collective or representative procedure, in case of enterprises with a number of workers enough to elect representatives (either a general delegation -unit and trade union- or a specialized one -prevention risks delegates and committee on security and health-). The "organic" aspect (i.e. representative organs required to a proper practice) and the "functional" one (i.e. faculties and competences to be performed) are both under analysis. Differences to exercise the rights on information and consultation are also considered, all in order to determine the most suitable representative organ in each case. Secondly, related to the public framework, the right could be so-called representative and institucional participation, as it is performed in different administrative organs and sectorial foundations, the most representative trade unions as responsible for a proper exercise.

scholarly journals From Global Unions to the Shop Floor: Trade Union Networks in Transnational Corporations in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Framil Filho ◽  
Leonardo Mello e Silva
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Transnational Corporations ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Local Labour ◽  
Transnational Connections ◽  
Union Action ◽  
Traditional Structures ◽  
Labour Power

This article analyses the origins, development and organisation of cross-union, company-based trade union networks in transnational corporations in the metal and chemical industries in Brazil. Collectively developed by local, national, foreign and international trade union organisations, this kind of union action was introduced in the country in the early 2000s as a way to connect local labour representatives organising workers in different locations within the same company. Networks strengthen local labour power and stimulate transnational connections. Promoting solidarity among workers across multiple factories, they offer the perspective for a global unionism connected to shop-floor organisation. Despite these achievements, networks face important challenges. Power imbalances, the reliance on restrictive social dialogue arrangements and the compromise with traditional structures limit the reach of the strategy.  KEY WORDS: globalisation; trade unions; new labour transnationalism; trade union networks; Brazil

13. Collective bargaining

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roseanne Russell
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Bargaining Power ◽  
Employment Relationship ◽  
Relationship Status ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
And Function ◽  
Additional Reading

The Q&A series offer the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, bullet-pointed answer plans and suggested answers, author commentary and illustrative diagrams and flowcharts. This chapter presents sample exam questions about collective bargaining. Through a mixture of problem questions and essays, students are guided through some of the key issues on the topic of collective bargaining including inequalities of bargaining power in the employment relationship, status and function of trade unions, time off for trade union members, and rights to information. Students are also introduced to the current key debates in the area and provided with suggestions for additional reading for those who want to take things further.

scholarly journals Social Conflict and Trade-Union Organisation in the Catalan Cotton Textile Industry, 1890–1914

1991 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Smith
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Textile Industry ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Cotton Textile ◽  
Textile Workers ◽  
Trade Unionism ◽  
Labour Costs ◽  
General Strike

SUMMARYThe article deals with the development of Catalan cotton textile trade unionism between 1890 and 1914. It has been argued that, given the economic difficulties which faced the cotton textile industry, employers were anxious to cut labour costs and unwilling to negotiate with trade unions. Between 1889 and 1891, therefore, they launched an attack on trade-union organisation within the industry. In many rural areas they were able to impose their will with relatively little difficulty. In urban Catalonia, however, they faced stiffer opposition. The state's response to labour unrest was not uniform. Nevertheless, at crucial moments the authorities supported the mill owners' assaults on labour organisation. The result was to radicalise the cotton textile labour force. This could be seen in the growing influence of socialists and anarchists in the textile unions' ranks, and in the increasing willingness of the textile workers to use general strike tactics.

scholarly journals Taming Labor: Workers’ Struggles, Workplace Unionism, and Collective Bargaining on a Chinese Waterfront

ILR Review ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1053-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Pringle ◽  
Quan Meng
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Container Terminal ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Enterprise Level

This article examines the case of the Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT) to consider under what conditions unions can provide effective workplace representation in China. The authors draw on semi-structured interviews to analyze how and why the union was effective, despite rigid prohibitions against organizing outside of the Party-led All-China Federation of Trade Unions. The authors argue that the YICT union developed a system of annual collective bargaining that tamed the power of militant dockworkers and helped prevent strikes. This outcome required an effective enterprise-level trade union that was nevertheless able to influence and manage members’ somewhat ambiguous acceptance of its role. Ultimately, workers’ interests were partially represented and their acquisition of associational power—in the form of trade unions—increased.

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