The Europeanisation of industrial relations: National and European processes in Germany, UK, Italy and France

Book abstract:

Based on extensive fieldwork, this book provides a comparative study of the industrial relations (IR) systems of Germany, France, UK and Italy. The coverage combines analyses of the national IR systems with an examination of the Europeanisation of industrial relations, including the development of Europe-wide employer and employee associations and the role of European legislation.

In the introduction industrial relations in Germany are used as a reference point against which selected aspects of industrial relations in France, Great Britain and Italy are compared and contrasted. The first chapter sets out the theoretical-conceptual framework of the investigation followed by a detailed examination of the 'Europeanisation' of industrial relations themselves in chapter two. Selected empirical findings on the development of industrial relations in Europe are dealt with in chapter three and chapter four contains views from trade unions and experts from employers' associations on their national and European experiences. Chapter five moves on to the empirical basis of five case studies carried out in selected parent companies and subsidiaries in the various countries and in the different industrial sectors - the metal industry, chemicals, food, construction, trade and insurance. In the final chapter the authors present, in thesis-form, the development of industrial relations in Europe and future prospects for employees and those representing their interests being enabled to play an active role in shaping the process of European unity.

This book is suitable for higher level undergraduates, academics, researchers and practitioners in the fields of economics, industrial relations, human resources and those engaged in policy development within employers/employees representatives associations.

Dr Wilhelm Eberwein and Dr Jochen Tholen are senior researchers at the University of Bremen in Germany and co-ordinators of the project 'Europeanisation of Industrial Relations'. Dr Joachim Schuster is also a researcher at the University of Bremen and a current member of the state's Parliament of Bremen.