Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 Conference. A report by Allan Jones AVSDC 17 June 2013

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1 Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 Conference A report by Allan Jones AVSDC 17 June 2013

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3 IR in Europe 2012 The Industrial Relations in Europe report provides an overview of major trends and developments in the relationship between employers and trade unions across Europe. It combines factual information with analysis of current issues in industrial relations at company, sectoral, national and European level. The new Report provides an analysis of industrial relations throughout the recent crisis, illustrating how employers and trade unions coped, or otherwise, with the turmoil. It has special sections on the Public Sector and the position in Central and Eastern Europe. The Report also includes information on developments in European social dialogue and labour legislation.

4 The Opening Session Keynote addresses by Barroso and Andors The on-going economic crisis poses a serious challenge to the dialogue between workers' and employers' representatives and governments. Recent government reforms have not always been accompanied by fully effective social dialogue, leading to increasingly conflictual industrial relations. The involvement of workers' and employers' representatives in government reforms is vital, as solutions found through social dialogue tend to have wider acceptance in society, to be easier to implement in practice and to be less liable to give rise to conflict. Well-structured social dialogue can effectively contribute to the economic resilience of Europe. Countries in which social dialogue is well-established and industrial relations institutions are strong are generally those where the economic and social situation is more resilient and under less strain.

5 IMPROVING THE LABOUR MARKET THE ROLE OF SOCIAL PARTNERS - The objective: to enhance competitiveness and to promote more and better jobs - Addressing the key challenges of: unemployment, in particular youth unemployment skills needs and mismatches flexibility and security reconciling family and working life Restructuring - Further involving the social partners in the labour market reforms

6 OVERCOMING THE CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE The issues: - Increasingly conflictual industrial relations - decreasing confidence in the capacity of the EU and national institutions to respond to the crisis How to restore confidence? How can social dialogue help?

7 Reality!! Social dialogue seen as a dinosaur by the power elite Role of the ECB and IMF Governments taking unilateral decisions

8 Public Sector Targeted by politicians Rapid structural change Negative IR Consequences for different sectors

9 Central and Eastern Europe Challenges of the transition IR institutions neglected Limited involvement of Social Partners

10 Programme Countries The name given to MS in receipt of support Limited involvement of social partners Tendency to bypass collective bargaining Social dialogue marginalised Street protest & demos

11 1. Analysis: Most significant changes in industrial relations practices: Reforms of collective bargaining : Termination/Abolition of national collective bargaining More possibilities for companies to derogate from sectoral agreements Priority for company agreements; abolition of the favourability principle Stricter rules for extension of collective agreements Reduction of the after-effect of collective agreements Company agreements signed by non-union representatives Dr. Thorsten Schulten

12 The Social Partners position The vital prerequisites for social dialogue: a suitable legal framework, a genuine capacity of social partners to organise their common activities and negotiations, mutual trust and respect. Strengthening these three fundamentals at all levels is an essential element of the recovery from the crisis and preserving the European social model.

13 Future Reports Take a look again at the Banner which you will all have seen on the side of the EC Berlaymont building.

14 3. Issues which need to address by industrial relations analysts The democratic and economic function of collective bargaining: Social partners autonomy and the principle of free collective bargaining versus The idea of a stronger European coordination of Economic policy including wages Dr. Thorsten Schulten

15 IR in Europe 2012 The Report is available online: Go to Choose your language; Go to Publications and documents; Go to Publications catalogue; Scroll down to IR in Europe 2012 ( )

16 IR in Europe 2012 Thank you for your attention! What are your reactions and observations? Allan Jones AVSDC June 2013