As result of the rise in low-quality jobs in the EU, there has been increasing attention to the responses of trade unions to precarious employment both in the scientific literature and in the socio-political debate. However, most studies have approached this issue largely from a national or single-sector perspective. Instead, we argue that a comparative sectoral perspective is also of major relevance. One of the key understandings emerging from recent industrial relations scholarship is the need to abandon the exclusive “methodological nationalism” that still dominates the field. Drawing on the findings of a two-year international research project, funded by the European Commission - DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, the article presents a comparative analysis on precarious work and trade union strategies in three sectors (construction, industrial cleaning, temporary agency work) across seven European countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and the UK). The research included seven country studies, which involved a common set of jointly developed questions and concepts, and a mixed-method approach. The analysis evidences, first of all, that specific sectors have a profile of precarious work that is remarkably similar across countries, originating from similar employers’ strategies, work organisation and, more generally, sectoral institutions. This results – as we illustrate – in unions facing comparable challenges concerning precarious work and developing comparable sectoral strategies to combat precarious work. The success of these strategies depends to a large extent on the available power resources. Between sectors within single countries, we observe some similarities but also very substantial differences in their institutional configuration and in actors’ constellations, power resources and repertoires of action. National institutional contexts seem much less significant than often assumed.
Trade union strategies against precarious work: Common trends and sectoral divergence in the EU
Pedaci Marcello
2020-01-01
Abstract
As result of the rise in low-quality jobs in the EU, there has been increasing attention to the responses of trade unions to precarious employment both in the scientific literature and in the socio-political debate. However, most studies have approached this issue largely from a national or single-sector perspective. Instead, we argue that a comparative sectoral perspective is also of major relevance. One of the key understandings emerging from recent industrial relations scholarship is the need to abandon the exclusive “methodological nationalism” that still dominates the field. Drawing on the findings of a two-year international research project, funded by the European Commission - DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, the article presents a comparative analysis on precarious work and trade union strategies in three sectors (construction, industrial cleaning, temporary agency work) across seven European countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and the UK). The research included seven country studies, which involved a common set of jointly developed questions and concepts, and a mixed-method approach. The analysis evidences, first of all, that specific sectors have a profile of precarious work that is remarkably similar across countries, originating from similar employers’ strategies, work organisation and, more generally, sectoral institutions. This results – as we illustrate – in unions facing comparable challenges concerning precarious work and developing comparable sectoral strategies to combat precarious work. The success of these strategies depends to a large extent on the available power resources. Between sectors within single countries, we observe some similarities but also very substantial differences in their institutional configuration and in actors’ constellations, power resources and repertoires of action. National institutional contexts seem much less significant than often assumed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
