Reconciliation policies in COVID times: what role for trade unions in Spain and Italy?

Emmanuele Pavolini, David Luque Balbona and Ana M. Guillén
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Emmanuele Pavolini: University of Macerata, Italy
David Luque Balbona: University of Oviedo, Spain
Ana M. Guillén: University of Oviedo, Spain

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 2022, vol. 28, issue 1, 65-82

Abstract: This article aims to interpret trade unions’ role in reconciliation policies during the current pandemic in Italy and Spain. Questions to be answered include whether and to what degree unions have been present in the public debate, have participated in the policy-making process, have acted as policy reform protagonists or have consented to it, and to what extent they have been able to influence the direction of reform. The study proposes a three-level analytical framework of general applicability, signalling the variables that may affect the role played by unions at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels, together with the indicators that could be used. Research results for the Italian and Spanish cases indicate that the most relevant level to explain the role played by unions is the macro one. Unions tended to acquiesce to government policies in both countries, although that does not preclude action or involvement. The article also argues that a better and more nuanced categorisation of union roles should be developed.

Keywords: Child care; reconciliation policies; Spain; Italy; trade unions; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:treure:v:28:y:2022:i:1:p:65-82

DOI: 10.1177/10242589221080872

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