Description
Book SynopsisShould trade unions passively respond to turbulent changes in industrial relations or can they innovate and set their own agenda? In the face of technological, economic, political and cultural change, trade unions across Europe face a genuine threat to their past achievements and their future capacity to act and shape industrial relations.
In The Challenges to Trade Unions in Europe , a group of prominent authors examines the unions' strategic policies in seven European member states and at the European Union level, as well as their responses to the globalization of economic competition. Using theoretical and historical analysis as well as up-to-date empirical research, they examine the successes of trade unions and their capacity to innovate in order to remain strategic actors in the industrial relations arena. In particular, the authors examine trade union policies responding to topical issues such as training, sustainable growth, flexibility, decentralization, deregulation and neo-liberal state policies.
The Challenges to Trade Unions in Europe explores responses to the main economic, managerial, political and socio-cultural features of the transformation process facing trade unions in Europe. It will be welcomed by researchers and students interested in industrial relations, personnel management, and the social and economic implications of European integration.
Trade Review'. . . a useful contribution to the field of comparative and international industrial relations. Its success is due to the involvement of a large number of authors who come from different countries and different disciplinary backgrounds, have both theoretical and empirical leanings, and have different methodological preferences. The diversity of their analyses - and their interest in going further then the descriptive question of the degree of innovation - produces a rich mosaic of current developments in union strategy.'Table of ContentsContents: Foreword Part I: Trade Unions on Shifting Grounds Part II: Rethinking Solidarity Part III: New Items on the Agenda Part IV: Adapting to Management Challenges Part V: Adapting toPolitical Pressures Bibliography Index
