Trade Unions More Involved in European Workplaces

By European Commission

The '2006 Industrial relations in Europe' report highlights that the decentralisation of collective bargaining, together with a decline in trade union density levels, is forcing trade unions to become more actively involved in the European workplace. The report suggests, however, that the growth of decentralisation does not mean an abandonment of sector and branch level collective negotiations.

In particular, the report shows how the decline in trade union density levels, together with a trend towards decentralisation, implies that trade unions are increasingly required to develop new employee representative strategies. This can usually involve, either directly or through their association with workplace bodies such as works councils, playing an active role in company restructuring and supporting the development of plant and company-level negotiations.

The Industrial relations in Europe 2006 report confirms the long-held belief that collective bargaining is going through a period of transition. It is shown, however, that the emerging growth of decentralisation does not necessarily represent the end of either branch or sector collective bargaining. Instead a picture emerges in which collective bargaining appears to constitute a complex jigsaw of options open to industrial relations actors, with trade unions increasingly willing to play a stronger role in the workplace.

The decline in membership throughout the EU is undermining the trade unions' ability to oppose the employers' growing interest in decentralised levels of collective bargaining. Although this transition is symbolic of workers' current poor negotiation position, trade unions could use this development to advance the top issue on all of their agendas - namely, to increase trade union density levels. With trade unions increasingly being required to oversee changes in employment processes, this represents an opportunity for employee representatives to demonstrate the important role they can play in alleviating some of the problems associated with restructuring.