Comparative Employment Relations in Europe: Work and Democracy under International Pressure

The current economic crisis has highlighted the need for renewed comparative industrial relations to account for change and international factors. This book examines the patterns of change in industrial relations in the six largest EU countries over the last twenty years,under the pressure of multinational companies,labour migration,and EU policies. It argues that national political traditions continue to play a significant role in how international pressures on employment relations are dealt with and emphasizes the importance of considering the diversity of social actors and their increasing cross-border relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The current economic crisis, with its varying impacts on employment across countries like Germany, the UK, and Spain, has underscored the enduring significance of comparative industrial relations. However, the predominant approaches, rooted in institutions and national "models," fail to adequately account for change and the influence of international factors. This book seeks to bridge this gap by examining the patterns of change in industrial relations in the six largest EU countries over the past two decades, amidst the pressures of multinational companies, labor migration, and EU policies. Conducted through extensive firsthand research in these countries for two years, the book presents a comprehensive argument emphasizing the continued relevance of national political traditions in navigating international pressures on employment relations. It concludes that, despite twenty years of international liberalization, the labor market remains a fundamentally political construct, requiring attention to the diverse social actors and their growing cross-border connections. This diagnosis holds significant implications for the nature of democracy and social rights within the European Union.

Written in a clear and accessible style, the book is enriched with empirical case studies to enhance its understanding and relevance. It is intended for researchers, practitioners, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of industrial relations and their impact on societies.

Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780415637909