European collective agreements at company level and the relationship between EWCs and trade unions — lessons from the metal sector

Torsten Müller, Hans-Wolfgang Platzer and Stefan Rüb
Additional contact information
Torsten Müller: European and Global Industrial Relations Research Group at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, torstenxmueller@t-online.de, torstenxmueller@t-online.de
Hans-Wolfgang Platzer: European and Global Industrial Relations Research Group at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Hans.W.Platzer@sk.hs-fulda.de
Stefan Rüb: European and Global Industrial Relations Research Group at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, stefan-rueb@arcor.de

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 2011, vol. 17, issue 2, 217-228

Abstract: The conclusion of framework agreements at European company level is a relatively new phenomenon which has gained momentum over the past decade, as an increasing number of European Works Councils (EWCs) moved beyond the information and consultation function foreseen in the EWC Directive. This new negotiating role of EWCs confronts trade unions with the twofold challenge to prevent syndicalist tendencies and to secure the primacy of trade unions as collective bargaining actors. Focusing on developments in the metalworking sector, this article examines the content and the implementation of the European Metalworkers’ Federation’s mandating procedure as the so far most far-reaching attempt by trade unions to maintain or regain control over negotiating activities at European company level. Based on an analysis of the negotiating process in four companies the article concludes that the application of the mandating procedure is heavily shaped by customs and practices of company-level and cross-company industrial relations in the company’s home country and that the application of the mandating procedure can be expected to be more successful the more trade unions foster close cooperation among those actors responsible for negotiating policy and thus encourage an understanding among both lay and full-time officials of the necessity of such a procedure.

Keywords: European works councils; European framework agreement; European Metalworkers’ Federation; company-level negotiations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:treure:v:17:y:2011:i:2:p:217-228

DOI: 10.1177/1024258911401448

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