bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing gender equality through transitional labour markets
Authors: Schmid Günther
Published: January 2010

This article develops the concept of ‘transitional labour markets': legitimised and collectively insured sets of mobility options between paid and unpaid work. Such mobility options could constitute a basis for both a new gender contract and a new concept of full-employment, the latter being based on the flexible target of 30 hours a week, from which employees would constantly deviate over their life course to allow for periods of training, child-care, higher-income phases etc. Of five different types of transitional labour market, this article focuses on the transition between paid and unpaid work and between work and retirement. Greater flexibility in the mobility between various labour market statuses, it is argued, would make a major contribution to overcoming gender inequality.
Subcontracting, contracting-out and new forms of employment
Authors: Hetru Emmanuel , Yonnet Jean-Pierre
Published: January 2010

The progressive decline of the large Fordist enterprise has caused a parallel decline of the employment relationship and the model of social dialogue connected with it. Downsizing of stable employment, temporary agency work, imposed part-time work, self-employment, undeclared employment, etc. have thus become current methods of managing the workforce. In parallel, the development of enterprise networks is promoting exchanges between employees and in some cases helping to improve their qualifications and providing them with a better share of value added. These new forms of enterprise organisation — allied industries and networks — go beyond the traditional boundaries of social dialogue geared to the industry and the enterprise. They invite the social partners to think about new forms of social dialogue. The state also has a role to play by improving legislation and promoting exchanges of good practices.
The individualisation of labour, job insecurity and vulnerability: young people's experience of work in Spain
Authors: Crespo Eduardo , Serrano Amparo
Published: January 2010

Young people's experience of work in today's world is characterised by insecurity and vulnerability. At the same time, an ideological discourse has gained currency which personalises social problems and attributes them to psychological factors. A study of the discourse of young Spaniards from different social backgrounds revealed the presence of individualistic attitudes, together with a strong feeling of powerlessness that makes it difficult for them to see a way out of their situation. Their experience serves to illustrate the psycho-social consequences of the trend for modern methods of production to be accompanied by the spread of deregulation, a tendency for inequality to be taken for granted and the attribution of social problems to personal factors. The social cohesion of modern industrialised societies, which is based on security and the predictability of future events, is being replaced in so-called post-industrial societies by an emphasis on individual risk management which places the worker in an extremely vulnerable position.
Living standards trends in the new economy era: what can we learn?
Authors: Mishel Lawrence
Published: January 2010

This article reviews wage trends in the USA during the 1990s. Positive findings include rising living standards and a narrowing of the pronounced income inequality, particularly at the bottom. Explanations discussed include sustained low unemployment, ‘new economy effects', government policy (e.g. minimum-wage increases), and the limited role of the stock market boom. Problems are identified, such as the increased (paid) work effort required. The article closes with an evaluation of the likely consequences of the recent downturn.
The impact of the NAFTA treaty on wage competition, immigration, labor standards and cross-border co-operation
Authors: Hualde Alfredo , Ramírez Miguel Angel
Published: January 2010

The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993 led to the formation of a social and economic area characterized by marked asymmetry between its members: the USA, Mexico and Canada. Seven years later the results in terms of salaries, employment and labor standards are not very positive, although they have not produced the catastrophic results foreseen by some. In Mexico several hundred thousand jobs were created, especially in the maquiladora export industry, but this has been associated with falling living standards and rising poverty. Migration from Mexico to the USA has increased. Poor labor standards and illegal employment have led to collaboration between NGOs and trade unions on both sides of the frontier.
Employment regulation in collective bargaining in Spain
Authors: Moner Ramon Alos
Published: January 2010

Concern surrounding employment issues such as job creation, job security and job quality has led to these issues being included in the collective bargaining process in Spain. Nevertheless, there are a number of matters which should receive greater attention from the social partners in future. Of particular importance is the need to co-ordinate collective bargaining in order to make it more flexible, i.e. more adaptable, whilst at the same time providing a stable framework in order to avoid the problems associated with the fragmentation of employment conditions. This article looks at the evolution of collective bargaining on employment issues since the end of the 1970s, as well as the social partners’ main bargaining demands with regard to these issues, and their most prominent characteristics.
Competitive consensus: bargaining on employment and competitiveness in the Netherlands
Authors: Huiskamp Rien , van Riemsdijk Maarten
Published: January 2010

This article shows how bargaining on the conflicting issues of fighting unemployment and increasing competitiveness has evolved. It offers an empirical insight into the degree to which the national framework agreements that form part of the now famous Dutch polder model are implemented. At the national level framework agreements are set up and recommendations are made on a wide range of issues. It is shown that these are then interpreted and partly adopted by negotiators at lower collective bargaining levels. At company level, three cases illustrate differences in the degree to which companies implement the outcomes of collective agreements: from ‘dedicated follower’ to ‘rebels with a cause'. Looking at the evidence, it seems the Dutch have experienced a form of organised decentralisation.
Financial participation in Europe —the international dimension
Authors: Van Den Bulcke Francine
Published: January 2010

This article reviews a research project, based on a survey of 500 companies, to identify the main barriers which European companies face when seeking to extend their financial participation plans in their home country to their employees working for the group throughout the European Union. The research project reveals a reasonable ‘spread’ of financial participation plan types across the EU. The different types of schemes differ with regard to the numbers of eligible workers and participation levels. The country distribution of plans confirms the impact of national regulations and tax incentives, as well as social and cultural influences on the financial participation practices across the EU.
Financial participation for employees in the European Union — a pragmatic view
Authors: Buschak Willy
Published: January 2010

This articles begins by tracing the changes in trade union attitudes to financial participation, which have generally become more favourable. A number of national case studies are considered. Having reviewed the possible advantages, the author cautions against a number of risks in extending such schemes. In particular care must be taken to avoid them acting as substitutes for direct participation by workers and their representatives in managing the companies in which they work, worker representatives must be consulted and schemes must be inclusive and not serve to exacerbate income differentials or income insecurity.
Regulated and controlled liberalisation: a means to reconcile market efficiency and social cohesion?
Authors: Jacobi Otto , Kowalsky Wolfgang
Published: January 2010

The opening up of the public sector by a strategy of regulated liberalisation is a controversial policy area for the EU. The article provides an introduction to the political, economic and social considerations on which European liberalisation is based, namely the need for a balance between economic efficiency and ensuring the provision of public goods. The most important elements in the practical implementation of EU liberalisation policy, with their weaknesses and deficiencies, are explained. In conclusion the changes implied for trade unions are discussed: while liberalisation undoubtedly confronts unions with new challenges and dangers, it also offers them opportunities, provided they Europeanise their interest representation structures.
The ETUC policy on services of general interest
Authors: Kowalsky Wolfgang
Published: January 2010

In view of the dramatic processes of change under way in the public sector and services of general interest, the ETUC has been obliged to reconsider its policies. The article describes the efforts made by the ETUC in the context of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the drafting of a proposals for a framework directive. The next challenge to be faced is that of influencing the Convention on the Future of Europe, which requires that European trade unions make urgent efforts to redefine and develop their positions on public services.
Impact of privatisation and commercialisation on municipal services in the UK
Authors: Whitfield Dexter
Published: January 2010

This article looks at the fundamental changes that have occurred in recent years in the area of public services in the United Kingdom, with a focus on those provided by local government. The various forms of privatisation and commercialisation that have been applied are described. In the second part the in many cases catastrophic impacts on users and workers, for democratic accountability and service quality are detailed. The article closes with a discussion of responses and alternatives.
Resistance to privatisation — social dialogue, US-style
Authors: Martin Brendan
Published: January 2010

This article looks at US experiences of the contracting-out form of privatisations, the problems it can cause and the forms of resistance that have developed among public service unions. It focuses in particular on how the municipal workers’ union in Indianapolis combined resistance with partnership to avert privatisation and achieve improved service, employment guarantees and better pay and working conditions. It then details, with reference to airport security, some of the perils of allowing privately owned companies, with their limited business preoccupations, to manage an area with a major public-good component.
The governance of service work - changes in work organisation and new challenges for service-sector trade unions
Authors: Lehndorff Steffen
Published: January 2010

The paper describes the diversity and unity of work organisation in service activities. It distinguishes a trend to ‘service-sector Taylorism’ from a contrasting tendency of ‘professional autonomy', alongside the joint core described by the notion of ‘market-based governance’ of service work, which confronts the individual (service) worker with internalised markets. The new mode of governance has substantial impacts on working conditions. The concluding section discusses the need for a public debate on the shortcomings of service work organisation primarily driven by market forces. Market failures, such as labour shortages in social service activities, should be identified and confronted with a new basic assessment of the value of services and in particular social services. Trade unions may contribute to this debate by developing their own paradigms of good service work.
Decline or transformation? Change in industrial conflict and its challenges
Authors: Bordogna Lorenzo , Cella Gian Primo
Published: January 2010

This article begins with a quantitative analysis of post-World War II strike activity in a group of European countries and the United States. The analysis highlights two important changes. First, over the past two decades, and particularly during the 1990s, there was a significant decrease in strike activity in the countries surveyed (with the notable exception of Denmark). Secondly, there has been a strong trend towards the so-called tertiarisation of conflict. This raises major problems for the measurement, analysis and regulation of strike activity, the strength of tertiary conflicts being based not on the number of days lost or the number of strikers involved, but on the extent of harm caused to the users of services. The impact of tertiary conflict varies from one country to another, in line with the different national regulatory mechanisms, national institutions and national styles of industrial relations.
Conflict regulation in the Nordic countries
Authors: Stokke Torgeir Aarvaag
Published: January 2010

The four Nordic countries share several basic features concerning industrial relations, enabling a discussion of conflict regulation to be restricted to five aspects: by-laws and bargaining traditions, bargaining structure, mediation, state intervention in the bargaining process, and legal regulations concerning industrial action. Regulations in the four countries reflect to some extent the varying historical capacity of the main union confederations to centralise collective bargaining. Variations also relate to the sources of the regulations, i.e. whether they are unilateral, bilateral (collective agreements) or state imposed. These differences and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed, as are trends in industrial action, pointing out the rise of public-sector strikes and newer features of industrial conflict in the private-service sector.
Collective conflict in the public sector in France
Authors: Souriac Marie-Armelle
Published: January 2010

The right to strike has been recognised in France, even as a right guaranteed by the Constitution, since 1946. Strikes in the public sector are subject to specific legal regulation, including requirements for minimum notice periods and, in some circumstances, minimum service requirements. This contribution examines these special legal features of public-sector strikes. It is necessary to clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of the management of public enterprises (or administrative authorities) and the government. The article also considers alternative (and new) forms of collective action and agreements. In the future there may well be even greater scope for the regulation of strikes to be covered by collective bargaining.
Labour relations in central and eastern Europe and the European social model
Authors: Kohl Heribert , Platzer Hans-Wolfgang
Published: January 2010

A comparison of structural developments in labour relations in the eight CEE candidate countries at company, sectoral and national levels in relation to the European social model shows that despite a transformation geared towards western European models, labour relations in CEE countries are developing along nationally characteristic lines and are showing considerable variations. Significant features which they do have in common, except for Slovenia, are the overall weak and fragmented structures at company level, with the widespread absence of a sectoral level of action and organisation and a pronounced emphasis on the state, which also characterises tripartism at national level. Compared to the current EU Member States, these countries have their own evolutionary ‘transitional-society’ type of labour relations, which will considerably increase the diversity of structures and policies in the enlarged EU and will thus present considerable challenges for future transnational labour relations.
Wage developments in candidate countries
Authors: Galgóczi Béla , Mermet Emmanuel
Published: January 2010

This article examines wage developments in 1990-2000 in the central and eastern European candidate countries. Two basic approaches are used: a comparison of wage levels in these countries with wages in EU countries and an examination of the development of wages in relation to other indicators of economic performance in the countries observed. Nominal wage levels were found to be 17% of EU levels whereas wage levels at purchasing power parity were found to be 39% of EU levels. The authors conclude that real wages in the period between 1992 and 2000 lagged substantially behind labour productivity and, in most countries, also behind GDP growth.
European governance, democratic representation and industrial relations
Authors: Cella Gian Primo
Published: January 2010

Liberal-democratic polities stand on two principles of representation: political and pluralistic. Industrial relations (and social dialogue) are of great importance in the framework of the second. This is the starting point of this article dedicated to the relationships and implications of European ‘governance’ vis-à-vis democratic representation and social dialogue. Two important documents issued by the Commission (the White Paper of July 2001 and the Communication of June 2002) suggest that the three keywords are governance, representation, and industrial relations. The discussion of the democratic weakness of the European institutions is at the core of this article. As far as possible solutions are concerned, the main thesis is that the procedures of social dialogue may provide a suitable basis for the creation and reinforcement of an economic-social citizenship which, although it is not yet a true political citizenship, may prepare the ground for it. In order to play this role, it will be necessary to prevent the over-representation of particularistic interests unable to generate solidarity, and to democratise the procedures of social dialogue.
The role of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in building a system of industrial relations at EU level
Authors: Bercusson Brian
Published: January 2010

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.
Coordination of collective bargaining: the case of Europe
Authors: Traxler Franz , Mermet Emmanuel
Published: January 2010

This article discusses the different theories relating to the coordination of wage demands in Europe. The introduction of the euro, enlargement and the completion of the internal market having created a need to prevent pay dumping and to facilitate wage convergence in Europe, the authors of this article recommend, to this end, a coordination of collective bargaining on the basis of procedural guidelines such as those adopted by the ETUC in 2000. Alongside this somewhat technical approach, the contribution reviews the actual efforts at coordination undertaken by the ETUC to date.
The European Employment Strategy and the open method of coordination: lessons and perspectives
Authors: Goetschy Janine
Published: January 2010

Since its last Congress in Helsinki, the ETUC has witnessed the appearance of a new regulatory mode, the open method of coordination (OMC), the most notable use of which has been in the European Employment Strategy (EES). This article successively explains the reasons for creating the EES, gives an account of its strength as an OMC tool but also of the contentious issues behind it, and describes its achievements and shortcomings on the basis of the evaluation after five years by the European Commission. The article concludes by reflecting upon the future development of the EES and the challenges for EU social partners, in particular the ETUC.
The dialectics of immigrant ‘integration’ and marginality in industrialising America and post-industrial Europe
Authors: Calavita Kitty
Published: January 2010

Immigration policies in Italy and Spain — even the restrictive policies put in place over the last several years — emphasise the importance of immigrant ‘integration'. At the same time, immigrants are welcome largely on the grounds that they fill important niches in the labour market, such as low-end jobs in construction, agriculture, and domestic service, that locals shun. This article explores the relationship between immigrants’ economic function in this southern flank of the European fortress, and their ability to integrate into the host society. Specifically, it argues that it is immigrants’ ‘otherness’ that is their calling card — their passport — in these new countries of immigration, and that their full integration into Spanish and Italian societies presumably would spell an end to their utility as ‘others'. Further, it documents the difficulties of integrating those who are legally and economically marginalised and for whom that marginality is seen as their chief virtue. The author makes comparisons with ‘Americanisation’ programmes in industrialising America and suggests that in both cases, the contradiction between the cheap labour of immigrants and the need to integrate them helps explain both the motivation for integration efforts and their complications.
Immigrant women in paid domestic service. The case of Spain and Italy
Authors: Rubio Sónia Parella
Published: January 2010

In the familistic welfare state regimes of Italy and Spain, the resurgence in live-in domestic work and the demand for migrant domestic workers is stronger than in other European countries. Organising and regulating services in order to help with the burden of caring for one's family is not an important objective of social policy in southern European countries. It is taken for granted that the family (‘women') is the main provider of social protection. In the absence of policy decisions in this field, the increase in local women's labour market participation in recent decades has led to households recruiting non-EU immigrant women in order to help them balance the needs of their family with the demands of paid employment. These immigrants constitute an enormous supply of low-cost labour and there is a shortage of local female workers in paid domestic work.
The policy mix and policy coordination in EMU - how can it contribute to higher growth and employment?
Authors: Watt Andrew , Hallwirth Volker
Published: January 2010

This article makes a case for improved coordination between the three main areas of economic policy - monetary, fiscal and wage policy - in the context of EMU. Focusing in particular on the monetary-wage policy link, it argues that, in an uncertain world, a coordinated macro policy mix would produce superior results than the current policy assignment, raising the rate at which the European economy can grow without inflationary pressures. However, such a strategy must overcome a number of practical difficulties and political opposition. The Macroeconomic Dialogue could provide a forum for discussions between policy actors on a more cooperative, growth and employment-oriented strategy. Trade unions must play a key role both in coordinating their wage policies and in promoting greater interaction with the other policy-mix actors.
Wage policy under EMU
Authors: Janssen Ronald , Mermet Emmanuel
Published: January 2010

After reviewing the different theories on the impact of EMU on wage policies and the way in which trade unions have sought to organise international coordination of wage bargaining in Europe, this article investigates whether EMU has had an effect on wage formation. It finds that there is indeed such an effect. EMU has gone hand in hand with relatively lower wage increases than in the pre-EMU period. European coordination of wage bargaining therefore remains necessary and has to be strengthened. This article also describes the interaction that has taken place over the last five years between wage formation on the one hand and macro-economic policies on the other. We find that here there is much scope for an improved and more intense dialogue between trade unions, the ECB and governments.
The role of welfare state typologies in analysing motherhood
Authors: Meulders Danièle , O'Dorchai Síle
Published: January 2010

This article reviews the literature relating to the explanatory power of different welfare state typologies when viewed from the perspective of mothers. The seminal work of Esping-Andersen is in this respect criticised; such typologies are more easily applicable to welfare states organised according to the dominant male breadwinner model. When the specific situation of mothers is considered, the main finding is that welfare states are hardly ever pure types and are usually hybrid cases that foster mothers’ welfare in different forms and to different extents. In order to more accurately reflect current societies that rely on women both as participants in the market place and as mothers, the alternative typology of ‘gender regime clusters’ is presented. Finally, it is argued that future classifications of welfare state regimes are bound to reflect not only gender-related characteristics of today's societies but also the set of cultural values and ideals that differ across countries.
New evidence on work among new mothers. What can trade unions do?
Authors: Gustafsson Siv , Kenjoh Eiko
Published: January 2010

This article examines the employment patterns of new mothers from one year before the birth of their first child until its fifth birthday in Sweden, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Japan. Data on the labour force status of mothers was drawn from household panel data from each country. That data showed significant differences in the employment patterns of new mothers. This article discusses the developments in family policies that may explain differences between employment patterns of new mothers in the five countries. In particular, the authors contrast family policies in Sweden with those of the other countries because since the 1970s Sweden has had the most wide-ranging set of policies to benefit the dual-career family. In addition, using a few examples from the Netherlands and Sweden, this article discusses what trade unions can do in their respective countries in order to move society towards truly shared breadwinning and shared parenthood between women and men.
Parenthood and time allocation in the countries of the European Union
Authors: Symeonidou Haris
Published: January 2010

This article reports on research into the division of paid and unpaid work between men and women in the EU. The research was carried out in the framework of a relevant European Network initiated and coordinated by Tilburg University in which all the countries of the European Union have participated. However, fieldwork research was carried out in seven countries only. The theoretical framework adopted for the research was based on Bourdieu's Theory of Practice. Analysis of the data, which focused on couples with at least one child under the age of 7, shows that in these countries traditional gender roles still largely persist. Men continue to be the main breadwinners, while they spend on average about half the time women do on childcare and even less time on household chores. Moreover, a discrepancy is observed between men's positive attitudes towards sharing housework in theory and the non-division of housework in practice, while public policies have little or no effect on this situation.
Flexicurity – the German trajectory
Authors: Keller Berndt , Seifert Hartmut
Published: January 2010

The focus of this article is the concept of ‘flexicurity’, flexibility linked to social security. We shall look at the issue in terms of the institutional framework in Germany and as an alternative to pure flexibilisation. The central elements are the four related concepts of (i) transitional labour markets, (ii) collective bargaining and working time policies which safeguard employment, (iii) lifelong learning, and (iv) provision for old age. These can be looked at from an analytical perspective, as well as in terms of the periods of employment and of post-employment. Furthermore, we deal with different forms of atypical employment in terms of the concept of flexicurity developed here.
Reconciling security with flexibility: a few questions
Authors: Walthéry Pierre , Vielle Pascale
Published: January 2010

A significant part of the recent literature dedicated to welfare state analysis has focused on the direction of future reforms of the welfare state. In particular, numerous authors have focused on how to reconcile flexible employment patterns with some form of security for the individual. In this regard, the transitional labour market (TLM) approach of Günther Schmid, as well as proposals put forward in the Supiot report, have attracted significant attention. The aim of this article is to introduce a few elements into the current debate on these proposals. The authors examine the potential, as well as the possible shortcomings, of the two above-mentioned approaches. They stress the need for additional clarifications regarding the possible policy proposals these approaches might result in, especially from the point of view of security for persons subjected to the possible resulting labour practices and social security provisions. The article then proposes a framework that could be used to evaluate such policy implementations while taking into account, in a longitudinal perspective, the multidimensional character of security on the labour market. Finally, based on Amartya Sen’ s theoretical framework (the capability approach), the article discusses the need for further research on the normative assumptions underlying welfare state reforms.
Flexicurity in a life-course perspective
Authors: Klammer Ute
Published: January 2010

This article extends the analysis of flexicurity to take account of the life-course perspective; in the international flexicurity debate such an approach has so far not been systematically taken. The article focuses on the question of what options will be needed for time allocation in different phases of life and over the whole life of an individual, and what financial resources could be combined to finance those phases. The first section discusses methodological and conceptual issues related to flexicurity and the life course. In the second section, longitudinal data from Germany is presented to illustrate some of the relevant patterns of, and changes within, life courses. The third and main section deals with policy implications. Four crucial objectives of a flexicurity policy based on a life-course approach are identified, and a range of options to improve flexibility and security over the lifetime are discussed. These options include measures to increase time sovereignty, subsidised part-time schemes for care and lifelong learning, the use of accumulated pension savings to finance other activities during the course of working life, and the role of minimum provision in social security schemes.
Flexibility and security: what forms of political regulation?
Authors: Nanteuil-Miribel Matthieu de , Nachi Mohamed
Published: January 2010

This article examines the strengths and weaknesses of the concept of ‘flexicurity’, calling into question the tendency of the contemporary cultural imagination to regard flexibility as a framework for the expression of individual freedom. It then describes a range of possible policy options, in relation to the market, in the perspective of combining flexibility of labour and security of persons. Three major options emerge: the ‘procedural', the ‘neo-substantive’ and the ‘partnership’ options. As a conclusion, this article comes out in favour of a different policy which would alter the framework for public intervention. It especially underlines the need for a ‘flexible’ and ‘decentred’ Welfare State, capable of supporting and encompassing forms of regulation emanating from civil society, in particular – but not exclusively – from the social partners.
Corporate social responsibility: from labour law to consumer law
Authors: Sobczak André
Published: January 2010

Corporate social responsibility (CRS) modifies the balance between different branches of law. Indeed, CSR instruments are indicative of the inroads made by commercial and consumer law into the field of labour relations. This paper argues that this shift from labour law to consumer law is not neutral and has more than a purely theoretical impact. It means not only that the existing law is more likely to protect consumers (in Europe or North America) than workers (in developing countries). It may lead to conflicts of interest between the company's different stakeholders, especially between workers and consumers, and also to a selective form of labour regulation, since consumer pressure affects only some companies and some social rights while neglecting others.
The future of work – what kind of work? Impacts of gender on the definition of work and research methodology
Authors: Scheele Alexandra
Published: January 2010

This article shows that many political and academic debates on the future of work do not adequately take the gender structure of work into account, and argues that what is needed is not only the incorporation of gender into research, but a different methodological approach. This approach has to improve the dialogue between different scientific disciplines (interdisciplinary) and between researchers and actors in the practical world (cooperation between research and practice). In addition, research has to reflect upon and inspect its prejudices, taking into account that gendered structures are present in every aspect of our lives. This article describes how these ideas were realised through the development of ‘Forschungswerkstätten’ (research workshops) and reports on some experiences from the field. The article concludes by presenting some of the difficulties and perspectives of this approach.
German pacts for employment and competitiveness Concessionary bargaining as a reaction to globalisation and European integration?
Authors: Massa-Wirth Heiko , Seifert Hartmut
Published: January 2010

This contribution deals with company-level pacts for employment and competitiveness (PECs) under the German collective bargaining system. Due to the introduction of collectively agreed opening clauses and the associated decentralisation of the collective bargaining system, the social partners at the company level now have greater opportunities to negotiate company-specific adjustments in the areas of compensation and working conditions. Currently, in return for – generally fixed-term – employer guarantees concerning location and job preservation, PECs have been negotiated in about one in four companies with a works council. The new ‘pacts’ increase internal flexibility in the firm by extending the leeway for a flexible adjustment of working time, work organisation and remuneration. A survey of works councils, conducted by the WSI, provides understanding of the economic and institutional factors which influence the spread and composition of these concessionary agreements. Alongside a commitment to social partnership on the management side, the presence of a sectoral collective agreement is an important prerequisite for ensuring, first of all, that the employer agrees to employment guarantees in exchange for the employee concessions and, secondly, that these management pledges are actually observed in practice.
Building social partnership? Strengths and shortcomings of the European Employment Strategy
Authors: Casey Bernard H.
Published: January 2010

The European Employment Strategy is now seven years old. Whilst its contribution to improving labour market performance has been evaluated, less attention has been paid to the manner in which the EES has worked, in particular the ways in which policy has been formulated and implemented. In particular, there has been little investigation of the extent to which one of the stated objectives of the strategy – the improved involvement of the social partners in the formulation and imple-mentation of policy – has been achieved. This paper argues that in many respects this objective has not been met. Even in countries where social partnership structures appear relatively well developed, the Luxembourg process has added little – in part because it is seen to be concerned with technical matters. Employment policy is ‘settled’ elsewhere. In addition, realisation of those elements of the strategy where social partner participation is most critical has often been frustrated by the lack of mechanisms to implement commitments made at the centre at places of work. Moreover, by subscribing to the strategy, social partners were also subscribing to a wider approach to economic policy – an approach that was scarcely compatible with the approach advocated by trade unions. Accordingly, the conclusion has to be that the Luxembourg process failed to develop social partnership. An exception might be the closer working together of the European-level social partner associations. However, their involvement in the strategy has been little noticed by their constituents, and it might even be argued to have encouraged elitism rather than to have promoted greater participation in policy-making.
The open method of coordination and the Lisbon strategy: the difficult road from potential to results
Authors: Goetschy Janine
Published: January 2010

Who, in the early 1990s, would have thought that by the end of the decade there would be such enthusiasm for European-level cooperation between the Member States in the social and employment policy fields? The change was brought about thanks to the introduction of the open method of coordination (OMC) and the political priorities defined by the Lisbon strategy. The OMC is currently applied in about ten economic and social policy fields, though its operation varies tremendously from one to another. A great deal of academic research has been devoted to the subject, leading to by and large similar findings: while it is a relatively straightforward matter to describe the way the various OMCs operate and to identify their potential, it is far more difficult to measure their actual effects on actors and on the content of national policies. This is essentially due to the cumulative impact of this mode of governance and the essentially cognitive nature of its effects, which makes proving causalities a highly delicate enterprise. This article sets out, on the basis of the studies available, to draw up an inventory of the findings and the arguments supplied by authors, some of whom see the OMC as a promising means of giving new impetus to social progress, while others express quite considerable reservations.
Industrial democracy and the European traditions
Authors: Taylor Robert
Published: January 2010

This article examines the prospects and challenges for employee participation on the boards of European Companies (SEs) under the European Company Statute. The article sets the current debate in the context of European 20th century industrial relations and 21st century globalisation. The author argues that worker involvement on the boards of companies will have to be achieved by means of persuasion and cooperation rather than confrontation.
Corporate governance with co-determination — a key element of the European social model
Authors: Kluge Norbert
Published: January 2010

The competitiveness of European companies should not be evaluated exclusively on the basis of the profit they make on the stock market for their shareholders. This, at least, is the traditional way of seeing things in Europe and has hitherto been reflected in the national company legislation of the majority of EU Member States. In the EU, workers in 18 Member States have the right to be represented at board level, and the legislation on the European Company (SE) provides for this right as a matter of course. Statutory worker participation is not just a facet of European social policy, it is part and parcel of good corporate governance and should not be viewed by managers as something that is unnecessary and disruptive. Nevertheless, in a world where international stock market financing of companies is on the rise, worker participation has a fight on its hands to secure its institutional future.
Company law and workers' interests
Authors: van het Kaar Robbert
Published: January 2010

Developments in company law in many cases have a significant impact on the interests of employees and their representatives. This article gives an overview of the implications of the 14 European directives and draft directives in this area. It also takes a closer look at the 13th Directive on public takeover bids, and goes on to examine developments in the field of corporate governance. What is the place for the workers in the current debate and the various codes of behaviour that have come into being? From the employee viewpoint the developments appear to be ambiguous. On the one hand, there are signs that employees are no longer regarded as serious stakeholders in the company. On the other, the 13th Directive, the proposed Tenth Directive on cross-border mergers, the SE (European Company) Directive on employee participation and other instruments make clear provision for participation by employee representatives.
Board-level employee representatives in nine countries: a snapshot
Authors: Carley Mark
Published: January 2010

This article presents some preliminary findings of a recent survey of employee representatives on company boards in nine EU Member States. The research examines: the personal characteristics of board-level employee representatives; the companies and boards involved; the representatives' relationships with employees, trade unions, works councils, other board members and management; the resources and facilities provided to the representatives; the issues they deal with; their impact on decision-making; the perceptions of their role; and their views on how their work could be improved.
Building North-South international union alliances: evidence from Mexico
Authors: Lévesque Christian , Dufour-Poirier Mélanie
Published: January 2010

This article offers an overview of how Mexican unions get involved in international union alliances. It is intended to increase our understanding of the prospects for North-South union cooperation, as the ability to construct international alliances is at the heart of union responses to globalisation. Drawing on data gathered from seven Mexican unions affiliated to the International Metalworking Federation (IMF), the authors distinguish three patterns of union involvement: a localist/defensive pattern, which rests on a narrow conception of solidarity and on sporadic relations, rather limited in scope, with other unions affiliated to the IMF; a nationalist/offensive pattern characterised by a broader view of solidarity and by intense exchange of information with other IMF affiliates; and an internationalist/proactive pattern which rests on the community of interest between workers from different countries and on active cross-border coordination of action. A critical condition for cross-border alliances lies in the existence of several power resources. Without these resources a union cannot overcome the acute constraints that it faces. In conclusion, the authors discuss the prospect of union renewal and union empowerment through North-South international union alliances.
Trade unionism under challenge from offshoring and globalisation
Authors: Contrepois Sylvie , Jefferys Steve
Published: January 2010

Trade unionism in western Europe is facing the growing challenge of the relocation of work to other parts of the world. This article focuses on the major banking trade unions in France and the UK. It discusses the unions' responses to globalisation in a sector where information technology has exposed firms to intense competitive pressures and has encouraged not just relocation but also business mergers and concentration combined with widespread outsourcing. The authors find that there is often a tension between the day-to-day defence of the workers and broader trade union aspirations to develop alternatives to the arbitrariness of an economic system where labour power is reduced to a commodity to be bought and sold. The article concludes that the dual purposes of union activity, the defence and improvement of workers' immediate working conditions, and the projection of alternative people-friendly forms of social and economic organisation, are being made more difficult by globalisation.
New protest movements and the revival of labour politics - A critical examination
Authors: Le Queux Stéphane
Published: January 2010

This article considers the extent to which the anti-globalisation movement might contribute to a revival of labour politics. The starting point is an awareness that the trade unions and the anti-globalists do not necessarily see eye to eye so that any assumption that they can readily join forces becomes problematical. Four fault lines are identified in relation to key areas of concern: i) political alternatives; ii) participatory democracy; iii) organic cohesion and inclusion; and iv) the renewal of activism. The article focuses on the case of France - regarded as something of an archetype of social movement unionism - and on its interface with the ETUC in the process of European integration. It is pointed out that while - in the view of the author - the anti-globalisation movement does indeed offer a potential source and impetus for a revitalisation of labour politics, this is no tame option but one requiring a carefully thought out strategy on the part of the trade unions and the social movements. The article concludes, accordingly, on a note of scepticism about the way in which the international trade union bodies have so far approached these issues, stressing the risk that the trade unions could find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
The territorial social dialogue: challenges and prospects for the trade unions
Authors: Jobert Annette
Published: January 2010

Forms of territorial social dialogue are developing at the regional or local level in most European countries. This article looks at the challenges facing the trade unions, particularly in France, as a result of this development. The first part examines the reasons for it - decentralisation of the state, changes in local government as well as in production systems - and the reasons why the trade unions are becoming increasingly involved. A second section focuses on a number of different instances of territorial social dialogue that reveal the diversity both of aims and of subjects treated, the wide-ranging public and private players involved and the highly diverse outcomes. The third part asks how these forms of social dialogue affect the unions. Do they represent a means whereby trade unions can extend their influence and strengthen their traditional areas of activity or do they contribute to weakening collective bargaining insofar as they offer less formalised methods of negotiating social outcomes that may detract from the role of the social partners to the benefit of government actors? The view put forward in this article is that the trade unions may well, under certain conditions, stand to gain from involvement in the territorial social dialogue.