The greening of social dialogue: Ensuring the quality of work and employment in the transition to a green economy

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1 The greening of social dialogue: Ensuring the quality of work and employment in the transition to a green economy EP Hearing, Brussels, 24 March 2015 Christine Aumayr-Pintar

2 Role of the social partners in greening Eurofound research over time

3 Key points Role of social dialogue in the transition to a green economy Prerequisite for social dialogue to become greener Anticipating and managing the effects of greening on quality of work and employment

4 2009 Social dialogue: Low levels of engagement and mobilisation Gap between levels of participation of social partners in the EU15 and EU10 (+3) Insufficient exposure to issues re the transition towards a green economy Recession has tended to shift focus from the agenda For Meaningful social dialogue to happen, adequate structures should be put in place and used.

5 Decline in membership and density levels of social partner organisations Membership of employer organisations participating in collective bargaining Trade union density Decline in trade union density Huge variation in degree of company representation by employer organisations Eurofound (2015)

6 Low levels of collective bargaining Collective bargaining coverage in the private sector Percentage of employees covered by a collective agreement at any level Eurofound, European Company Survey (2013); private sector establishments > 10. see Eurofound (2015) Low degree of representation and low collective bargaining coverage limit social partner s role in the transition to a green economy. This is particularly the case in new Member States, among SMEs and in newly emerging business segments.

7 Emerging sector: electricity generation from renewable energies Increased production of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES directive) Achieved either by established actors (e.g. AT, DK) or Emergence of new business segments Fragmented, mainly SMEs, decentralised providers Business associations act as interest representation, not as genuine social partners involved in collective bargaining Very few examples of trade union activation strategies detected in otherwise uncovered sectors (e.g. DE, PT, LV, UK) Solar and digesters by Mike Steinhoff, CC BY SA. Social dialogue and consultation happens, but is often focused on energy policies rather than on the consequences for employment levels and conditions. Renewable energy by Sten Dueland, CC BY SA.

8 Quality of work and employment Career and employment security Employment status Income Worker s rights Social protection Health and well-being Health problems Risk exposure Work organisation Eurofound (2002) Job and employment quality Reconciliation of working and nonworking life Working and nonworking time Social infrastructure Qualification Skills development Training Career developments Learning organisation

9 Promoting green social dialogue at different levels EU level National European sectoral social dialogue: promoting learning processes between social partners in different Member States ESF fund: promoting the transition to greener activities, in particular in the New Member States Role of governments: Ensure consultation of social partners re green issues takes place within existing tripartite fora Encourage genuine social partners in newly emerging industries to engage in collective bargaining Kick-start sectoral social dialogue Guarantee inclusion via broad collective bargaining coverage (e.g. extension) Government can counterbalance the failure in representation in newly emerging green industries and can promote social partners capacity to engage in meaningful social dialogue on green issues.

10 Role of public authorities down to the sectoral/regional and company level Introduce horizontal job quality-related requirements in their green public investments and in green public procurements Adapt education and training policy for green change: introduce new programmes or adapt existing ones for green skills develop recognition, validation and certification systems for green competences coordinate education and training policy with environmental, labour market and other public policies encourage relevant training on ecoinnovations to facilitate greening management processes Leading by example: job quality requirements in green public investment. Good coordination is required to ensure a successful trickle-down of greening policies.

11 Collaborative approach adopted by companies

12 How companies can anticipate and manage the effects of greening on job quality Company level Designate green workplace representatives Involve employee representatives in green management structures Energy audits Training re environment issues Energy efficiency targets gains to be included in collective agreements Staff engagement surveys on green issues Key prerequisite for successful socially responsible green change: general awareness and acceptance of change among employees Examples: Green REP in the United Kingdom (e.g. PCS union)

13 Conclusions Transition to greener activities only successful if the quality of jobs is guaranteed. Social partners are key to ensuring the quality of jobs and good working conditions. Governments can encourage, support and listen to social partners in the transition to good quality jobs.

14 Thank you for your interest! Further questions: Dr Christine Aumayr-Pintar European Observatory of Working Life

15 Sources Eurofound (2015), Industrial relations and working conditions developments in Europe 2013, Aumayr-Pintar et al. Eurofound (2013), Greening of industries in the EU: Anticipating and managing the effects on quantity and quality of jobs, Simonas Gausas et al. Eurofound, European Company survey (2013) European Commission (2012), Industrial relations in Europe 2012, chapter 5, based on a draft by Christine Aumayr-Pintar and Christian Welz Eurofound (2012), Changing business landscape and industrial relations in the EU electricity sector, Roberto Pedersini Eurofound (2009), Greening the European Economy: Responses and initiatives by governments and social partners, Andrea Broughton Eurofound (2009): Norway: Minimum wage introduced in green sector, Kristin Alsos Eurofound (2002): Quality of work and employment in Europe Eurofound (1994): Social partners cooperation in environmental protection