The establishing of a European industrial relations system: Still under construction or chasing a chimera?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine European Union (EU) industrial relations in their development over time. It describes and analyzes their main constituent parts, which are deployed along four interlinked institutional dimensions: tripartite concertation; cross-industry social dialogue; sectoral social dialogue; and employee representation and negotiation at the transnational company level. The focus lies strictly on the emerging EU layer of industrial relations, which is common to the different Member States and not on comparative European industrial relations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual in nature. It considers the differences and mutually interdependent legal and political processes, policies and institutions between EU industrial relations and national industrial relations.

Findings

The findings substantiate that EU industrial relations constitute an incomplete but perfectly traceable transnational reality distinct from industrial relations in the Member States. EU industrial relations are not to supersede but to supplement national industrial relations. Neither the EU institutional framework nor the European social partners have the mandate, legitimation or desire to perform a more ambitious role.

Research limitations/implications

More empirically oriented research would further support the findings in the paper.

Originality/value

The paper presents a conceptual review based on a comprehensive and critical reading of the literature on EU industrial relations. It also puts labor strategies at the forefront of the analysis in corporate relocation.

Citation

Begega, S.G. and Aranea, M. (2018), "The establishing of a European industrial relations system: Still under construction or chasing a chimera?", Employee Relations, Vol. 40 No. 4, pp. 600-616. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2017-0151