Opening the black box: Actors and interactions shaping European sectoral social dialogue

Barbara Bechter, Sabrina Weber, Manuela Galetto, Bengt Larsson and Thomas Prosser
Additional contact information
Barbara Bechter: Durham University, UK
Sabrina Weber: Pforzheim University, Germany
Manuela Galetto: University of Warwick, UK
Bengt Larsson: University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Thomas Prosser: Cardiff University, UK

European Journal of Industrial Relations, 2021, vol. 27, issue 3, 269-288

Abstract: This article highlights the importance of organizational resources and individual capabilities for interactions and relationships among social partners in European sectoral social dialogue committees (SSDCs). We use an actor-centred approach to investigate work programme setting in the hospital and metalworking SSDCs. Our research reveals differences in how European social partner organizations coordinate and integrate members in SSDCs. In hospital, European Union (EU)-social partners build bridges that span otherwise separate actors or groups. The findings suggest that the absence of bridging efforts can lead to the dominance of a few actors. In metalworking, small cohesive groups are more effective in forming close networks and determining work programmes. While work programmes in hospital represent issues which are on national agendas, in metalworking, they focus mainly on EU policy areas.

Keywords: European Union; hospital; interactions; metalworking; relationships; sectoral social dialogue committees (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:eurjou:v:27:y:2021:i:3:p:269-288

DOI: 10.1177/09596801211000012

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