Transnational negotiations and the Europeanization of industrial relations: Potential and obstacles

Costa, Isabel da; Pulignano, Valeria; Rehfeldt, Udo; Telljohann, Volker

doi:10.1177/0959680112440756

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The co‐ordination of multi‐level employee representative bodies and their respective power resources, including local union orientations, access to headquarters, union‐GUF links, EWC characteristics and leverage within corporate structures are key determinants of the overall impact of TCAs (Da Costa et al . ; Keune and Marginson ; Williams et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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

Mustchin

Lucio

2017

Brit J Industrial Rel

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impact of such agreements is dependent on relationships and power dynamics between unions, works councils, EWCs and management at various levels, including access to and influence on headquarter management (Da Costa et al . ; Keune and Marginson : 494; Williams et al . ).…”

Section: Tcas Their Local Impact and Internationalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Mustchin

Lucio

2017

Brit J Industrial Rel

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“…Another example, which also concerns Electrolux and its trade union, is about lay-offs in Europe in connection with moving production to low-wage countries. A European research group concluded that, given the success achieved by Nordic unions at home, the Swedish unions probably rate their own system of industrial relations more effective than any common European interest representation (Da Costa et al 2012). The group refers to a study of Danish and Swedish trade union "skepticism" in the European context (Knudsen 2005) and writes: "With regard to restructuring processes this position implies that there is no ambition to contest management decisions.…”

Section: The Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

The Global Challenge of Human Rights and Solidarity to Nordic Global Companies and Trade Unions

Schiller¹

2014

NJWLS

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The idea that corporations, besides making profit, have a social responsibility to society is not new in history. Nor is it new that unions besides representing material interests stand for a universal ambition as defenders of the oppressed in the world. The article argues that corporations’ social responsibility and trade union solidarity, to the extent both are based on universal principles of human rights, ought to open for cooperation concerning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), where trade unions should be recognized as important stakeholders in corporations. This idea is new, even if examples exist, and it challenges traditional concepts of the role of management and unions in the company. However, trade unions have taken a critical attitude to CSR, the implementation of which they have mainly been excluded from. Instead, they have tried to get global agreements, Global Framework Agreements (GFAs), with the MNCs.1 In the article the development of the attitudes of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and of the Nordic national centers is investigated. A long-term historical perspective, in addition to a general theory of collective action will be used to draft the hypothesis that, when unions as interest organizations, through the process of national integration, have achieved a strong position in the domestic labor market, they lack reasons to take transnational action and seek international trade union solidarity. This hypothesis is valid today for the well-established unions in the Nordic countries. But in questions concerning social responsibility and human rights, the article presents the possibility that GFAs might become a platform from which to extend the Nordic model of national partnership to the global level, while at the same time global competition will increasingly make it difficult for the unions to show international solidarity in interest questions of capital investments and outsourcing.

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“…As will be discussed in Section 2, most scientific research defines GUFs, national trade unions, EWCs and other actors involved as one ‘workers bloc’ with common ideas and strategies, but research on co‐operation within EWCs shows that different national institutions on industrial relations have to be co‐ordinated within the EWC to be able to act as a European body (see recently Da Costa et al . ). The same is true for co‐operation between different European and global bodies of employee representation when trying to negotiate IFAs with management; internal negotiations inevitably take place that influence actors' configuration and negotiations with management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Transnational Alliances for Negotiating International Framework Agreements: Power Relations and Bargaining Processes between Global Union Federations and European Works Councils

Dehnen

2013

Brit J Industrial Rel

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Why should European Works Councils (EWCs) discuss the InternationalLabour Organisation's core labour standards? With respect to their legal duties, EWCs are information and consultation bodies on European topics. In practice, they can become main actors in negotiating and implementing international framework agreements (IFAs) about core labour standards in multinational companies. Using theoretical models of internal and inter-organizational bargaining, the author highlights the role of those European bodies that work together with Global Union Federations (GUFs) during negotiations. In order to analyse the different forms of actors' involvement in negotiations, empirical data from a content analysis of all IFAs, as well as three company case studies, will be presented. It will be argued that internal bargaining between EWCs and GUFs influences negotiations with management. Furthermore, the article discusses the role of norms and institutions that shape internal as well as interorganizational bargaining processes, and lead to different forms of involvement of employee representation bodies.

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Transnational negotiations and the Europeanization of industrial relations: Potential and obstacles

Cited by 12 publications

References 9 publications

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

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

The Global Challenge of Human Rights and Solidarity to Nordic Global Companies and Trade Unions

Transnational Alliances for Negotiating International Framework Agreements: Power Relations and Bargaining Processes between Global Union Federations and European Works Councils

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