The Europeanization of Labour: Structure before Action

Abstract

At national level, the development of effective labour movements has involved the interaction of two processes: the establishment of formal organizational structures, and the rise of rank-and-file pressure and protest. At European level, recent years have seen significant organizational developments; this article discusses the role of the European Trade Union Confederation and the emergent European Works Councils. As yet, however, there has been no parallel evidence of transnational labour protest, and indeed the obstacles are considerable. Nevertheless, institutional frameworks may create a `political opportunity structure' which facilitates its emergence.

European Works Councils after two decades

“…About 65 percent of the articles consider their role in some way. Sources examining unions are split between those that focus on national unions (Hancké, 2000) and those focusing on the European Trade Union Federations (ETUFs) (Turner, 1996), with a few analysing the interrelationship between the two (Pulignano, 2005). Five interrelated issues are central to the understanding of the role of union organizations and EWCs: networking and articulation, unions as suppliers of resources, the division of labour between the ETUC, ETUFs and the ratification of transnational company agreements, and unions and the coverage rate of EWCs.…”

Industrial citizenship, cosmopolitanism and European integration

“…What this means is that communitarian supports for class formation either do not exist or are much weaker across national boundaries. Furthermore, despite the existence and importance of certain EU trade union organizations, the mobilizing structures and identities behind these are not well developed, and are insufficient to link workers into pan-EU union organizations in the same way they identify with national trade unions (L. Turner 1996). Lacking embeddedness in a common national narrative, transnational working class capacities remain essentially an intellectual construction rather than a lived reality (although one backed by a strong structural-economic logic (Author 2006)).…”

The Emergence of a European Labour Protest Movement?

“…A strong labour movement and mobilization are often seen as a desirable outcome and necessity for defending labour rights in the transnational context (Tilly, 1995). Mass mobilization at EU level is thus deemed to be of crucial importance for the success of interest-group lobbying (Rucht, 2001;Tarrow, 2001;Turner, 1996) and social dialogue at the EU level (Hyman, 1994). It is also a common argument that international solidarity needs to be entrenched in the lower ranks of the trade unions (Ebbinghaus and Visser, 1996;Gobin, 1994;Hyman, 2001;Waterman, 1998), and hence that trade unionism in the EU should 105 incorporate the characteristics of a social movement to be effective (Hyman, 2005).…”

“…The representation of labour interests is top-down: the representatives 'constitute the represented; pre-formulate their potential views and interests' (Mückenberger, 2004: 276). There are institutions of labour representation at European level, but no movement-driven action (Turner, 1996). A strong labour movement and mobilization are often seen as a desirable outcome and necessity for defending labour rights in the transnational context (Tilly, 1995).…”