The establishing of a European industrial relations system

Abstract

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.

Institutions or resources and capabilities? Explaining engagement in European sectoral social dialogue

“…Consistent with difficulties which wider theories encounter when explaining idiosyncrasies of individual cases, the European social dialogue has its peculiarities. As several authorities have underlined, the dialogue suffers from key weaknesses; these include lack of negotiations on wages and prevalence of non-legally binding output (González Begega and Aranea, 2018;Pochet and Degryse, 2016;Prosser and Perin, 2015).…”

Trade unions and the 2016 UK European Union Referendum

“…A third mode of European engagement has been through social dialogue based on EU Directives (e.g. the EWC Directive) and framework agreements through European Social Dialogue (ESD) and European Sector Social Dialogue (ESSD) (see Begega and Aranea, 2018; Marginson and Keune, 2012). Collaboration here has extended beyond leadership and senior officers to involve junior officers and ordinary members.…”