Industrial Relations at European Sector Level: The Weak Link?

Abstract

The sector level remains the least developed element of the emerging European-level industrial relations framework. Insofar as a sector-level dimension is emerging, it is along two main tracks. The first, through the sector social dialogue, is resulting in ‘soft’ forms of regulation. The second, driven forward by trade unions, comprises cross-border bargaining coordination initiatives. The relative prominence of social dialogue and coordinated bargaining, respectively, differs markedly between sectors. Coordinated bargaining and framework agreements adopted through social dialogue involve daunting challenges of implementation, relying as they do on the voluntary cooperation, commitment and actions of the European- and national-level actors involved. Prospects for both tracks are assessed, and the challenges arising from EU enlargement identified.

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