European integration and industrial relations. Multi-level governance in the making

Abstract:

This work is concerned with the employment relationship and how it is regulated or governed, and the extent to which those aspects are increasingly influenced by European integration.

The book is organised over twelve chapters. The first offers background to the study, addressing topics such as the impact of EMU and some wider considerations. Chapter two explores the increasing connectivity of European economies with emphasis on the EU’s political dimension. Chapter three features developments in the main processes of industrial relations which underpin multi-level governance. Chapter four examines the developments at the EU Community and sector levels. There then follow three chapters concerned with developments within the national systems. Chapter five feature social pacts and chapter six looks at sector agreements. Chapter seven reviews the changing relationship between sector and company bargaining in two sectors, banking and metalworking, and four countries, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Multinational companies are the focus of chapter eight. Chapters nine and ten deal with outcomes in terms of wages and working time. Chapter eleven reviews the findings of the study and chapter twelve goes on to consider their main implications.

The work will interest scholars and students, policy researchers and makers, economists and practitioners engaged in the fields of labour relations and European integration studies.

Paul Marginson is Professor of Industrial Relations and Director of the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick.

Keith Sisson is Head of Strategy Development at the UK’s Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and Emeritus Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Warwick’s Industrial Relations Research Unit.