The shifting role of unions in the social dialogue
(2021) In European Journal of Workplace Innovation 6(2). p.220-244- Abstract
- The industrial relations models among the EU/EES countries vary widely. The Nordic model of self-regulation contrasts sharply to French state extension of collective agreements and minimum wage set by the state. While social dialogue often refers to
tripartite negotiations, bipartite collective bargaining is characteristic of self-regulation. Swedish self-regulation is the most far-reaching among the Nordic countries, as state intervention is less common than in Denmark, Finland and Norway. In most EU/EES
countries, in particular the new Central and Eastern European member states and Greece, union power is undermined by declining union density and shrinking coverage of collective agreements. In many cases, international... (More) - The industrial relations models among the EU/EES countries vary widely. The Nordic model of self-regulation contrasts sharply to French state extension of collective agreements and minimum wage set by the state. While social dialogue often refers to
tripartite negotiations, bipartite collective bargaining is characteristic of self-regulation. Swedish self-regulation is the most far-reaching among the Nordic countries, as state intervention is less common than in Denmark, Finland and Norway. In most EU/EES
countries, in particular the new Central and Eastern European member states and Greece, union power is undermined by declining union density and shrinking coverage of collective agreements. In many cases, international organisations pushed through
“structural reforms” weakening trade unions. The result is decreased bargaining capacity at industry level and difficulties in avoiding downwards derogations at company level. Even in some core eurozone countries governments have carried through “internal devaluation” to restore competitiveness. High union density (Finland) or high union mobilisation capacity (France) could not prevent this development. The economic performance of a country and degree of globalisation, including the absence of a national currency, appear more important. Swedish union density is still among the highest in the world but has declined considerably in the last twenty years. As a strongly export-dependent country dominated by large transnational groups, is Sweden very exposed to globalisation. This has shifted the balance of power to the advantage of transnational companies, and by that circumscribed the unions’ efforts to achieve developing jobs and improved working environment. (Less)
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https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3762b0d8-0aca-4ddc-a9eb-9fdc76ebf42c
- author
- Kjellberg, Anders LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-03-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Trade union, social dialogue, union density, collective bargaining, self-regulation, state regulation, globalization, Eurozone, Nordic model, Swedish model, industrial relations, basic agreement, LO, PTK, flexibility, CEE states, EU/EES, statutory minimum wage, internal devaluation, foreign-born, pandemic, sociology, social dialogue, collective bargaining, union density, self-regulation, state regulation, globalization, collective agreement, eurozon, internal devaluation, EU, Sweden, basic agreement, France, Nordic model, Anglo-saxon model, Continental European model, CEE countries, foreign-born, migration, posted workers, health care sector, coverage of collective bargaining, workplace innovatioon, IF Metall, Kommunal, Ghent system, Ghent countries, sustainable work, industrial relations, Sociology
- in
- European Journal of Workplace Innovation
- volume
- 6
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 25 pages
- ISSN
- 2387-4570
- project
- Social dialogue and sustainable work in Europe
- Trade Unions in Europe (27 EU countries)
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Special Issue: European Approaches to Sustainable Work
- id
- 3762b0d8-0aca-4ddc-a9eb-9fdc76ebf42c
- date added to LUP
- 2021-01-29 13:48:56
- date last changed
- 2021-03-08 15:50:40
@article{3762b0d8-0aca-4ddc-a9eb-9fdc76ebf42c,
abstract = {{The industrial relations models among the EU/EES countries vary widely. The Nordic model of self-regulation contrasts sharply to French state extension of collective agreements and minimum wage set by the state. While social dialogue often refers to <br/>tripartite negotiations, bipartite collective bargaining is characteristic of self-regulation. Swedish self-regulation is the most far-reaching among the Nordic countries, as state intervention is less common than in Denmark, Finland and Norway. In most EU/EES <br/>countries, in particular the new Central and Eastern European member states and Greece, union power is undermined by declining union density and shrinking coverage of collective agreements. In many cases, international organisations pushed through <br/>“structural reforms” weakening trade unions. The result is decreased bargaining capacity at industry level and difficulties in avoiding downwards derogations at company level. Even in some core eurozone countries governments have carried through “internal devaluation” to restore competitiveness. High union density (Finland) or high union mobilisation capacity (France) could not prevent this development. The economic performance of a country and degree of globalisation, including the absence of a national currency, appear more important. Swedish union density is still among the highest in the world but has declined considerably in the last twenty years. As a strongly export-dependent country dominated by large transnational groups, is Sweden very exposed to globalisation. This has shifted the balance of power to the advantage of transnational companies, and by that circumscribed the unions’ efforts to achieve developing jobs and improved working environment.}},
author = {{Kjellberg, Anders}},
issn = {{2387-4570}},
keywords = {{Trade union; social dialogue; union density; collective bargaining; self-regulation; state regulation; globalization; Eurozone; Nordic model; Swedish model; industrial relations; basic agreement; LO; PTK; flexibility; CEE states; EU/EES; statutory minimum wage; internal devaluation; foreign-born; pandemic; sociology; social dialogue; collective bargaining; union density; self-regulation; state regulation; globalization; collective agreement; eurozon; internal devaluation; EU; Sweden; basic agreement; France; Nordic model; Anglo-saxon model; Continental European model; CEE countries; foreign-born; migration; posted workers; health care sector; coverage of collective bargaining; workplace innovatioon; IF Metall; Kommunal; Ghent system; Ghent countries; sustainable work; industrial relations; Sociology}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{03}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{220--244}},
series = {{European Journal of Workplace Innovation}},
title = {{The shifting role of unions in the social dialogue}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/94935911/Unions_in_social_dialogue_Kjellberg_Workplace_Innovation.pdf}},
volume = {{6}},
year = {{2021}},
}