Transnational Collective Agreements and the Development of New Spaces for Union Action: The Formal and Informal Uses of International and European Framework Agreements in the UK

Abstract

Transnational collective agreements (TCAs) are an important development in the international dimension of industrial relations. This article compares four case studies of multinational companies in the UK covered by TCAs. Findings show that while the formal influence of TCAs was limited, they were invoked around particular disputes and could strengthen union influence in a context otherwise characterized by limited union rights. Such influence depended on the co-ordination of workplace-and firm-level industrial relations institutions, union access to management at headquarters level and union receptiveness to and outward engagement with transnational activity. The formal but also the informal dimensions of these dynamics played a significant role.

Global Framework Agreements and Trade Unions as Monitoring Agents in Transnational Corporations

“…Another important issue that would deserve further investigation is how managerial actors ensure that signing a GFA will not act as a Trojan horse for other trade union demands. In a recent article, Mustchin and Martinez-Lucio (2017) show how transnational collective agreements can be used by trade unions as opportunities to enlarge their action and influence in the TNC. Taking the managerial point of view, we can imagine that such a risk is discussed between CSR managers and top management when deciding if it is suitable to negotiate with a GUF.…”

“…), or the procedures for managing conflict; 4. The scope of application: By definition, GFAs have a worldwide field of application, which distinguishes them from the European framework agreements (EFA) that arose from a very distinct rationale, although GFAs and EFAs are often grouped together under the generic term transnational collective agreements (TCA) (Mustchin and Martinez Lucio 2017).…”

Corporate Social Responsibility and Labour Standards: Bridging Business Management and Employment Relations Perspectives

“…While much research shows difficulties enforcing IFAs at the local level (Helfen and Sydow ), they can also serve as resources for unions in local bargaining (Dehnen ). Mustchin and Lucio () show that UK trade unions referenced or engaged with these agreements to strengthen their influence on multinational corporations; with best outcomes where institutions supported co‐ordination across different levels of the firm (see also Fichter et al . ).…”

“…While much research shows difficulties enforcing IFAs at the local level (Helfen and Sydow 2013), they can also serve as resources for unions in local bargaining (Dehnen 2013). Mustchin and Lucio (2017) show that UK trade unions referenced or engaged with these agreements to strengthen their influence on multinational corporations; with best outcomes where institutions supported co-ordination across different levels of the firm (see also Fichter et al 2011). The structure of global value chains (Riisgaard and Hammer 2011) and the intersection of union and employer strategies (Williams et al 2015) have also been found to affect labour's leverage and influence in both IFAs and multistakeholder codes of conduct.…”

Do international union alliances contribute to the effectiveness of international framework agreements? A comparative study of Telefonica and Portugal Telecom

“…This article argues that the effectiveness of IFAs depends on the capacity of IUAs to access and mobilize organizational and institutional power resources. It contributes to a growing body of research showing that IFAs can create opportunities to ensure respect for workers' rights, but key organizational and institutional resources of IUAs enable them to take advantage of these opportunities (Mustchin and Martinez Lucio, 2017;Williams et al, 2015).…”