Reports and working papers
WP 2010.04
How do institutions affect the labour market adjustment to the economic crisis in different EU countries?
By Janine Leschke and Andrew Watt
The economic crisis which began in most European countries in mid-2008 has had severe effects on labour markets. Although no country has escaped the crisis, the extent of output losses and the number of jobs lost, as well as the resulting rise in unemployment, vary considerably between countries. In order to shed light on this issue, this paper examines empirically how the current economic crisis has affected the different European economies in terms of the impact on output, and the knock-on effects, influenced by the specific institutional frameworks, on employment and unemployment.
WP 2010.03
Wages in the crisis
The recent global recession has had differing effects on wages across Europe. This paper presents wage patterns for EU countries since the impact of the financial crisis, and compares them to previous trends. Wages in the countries hardest hit by the recession have underperformed when compared to past developments. The role of wages in determining international competitiveness is also examined and the importance of the general price level as opposed to wage levels is highlighted.
Report 112. The European union's better regulation agenda
By Eric Van den Abeele
Despite the meltdown caused by deregulation in the financial sector, the Barroso Commission continues to push Better Regulation as delivering light-touch, business-friendly lawmaking. This report explains the ins and outs of the Better Regulation agenda, and answers many of the questions raised by this programme that it is claimed will improve the EU’s legislative framework. Is the Better Regulation agenda a real way of improving EU governance? Can it add something extra to the work of the European institutions and Member States? Will it change the relationship between stakeholders and their relationships with citizens?
WP 2010.02
Following the 'organising model' of British unions? Organising non-standard workers in Germany and the Netherlands
By Kurt Vandaele and Janine Leschke
This paper aims to provide a survey of the initiatives developed by trade unions in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK for organising non-standard workers and to assess whether, and to what extent, the Dutch and German unions are influenced by British union practices for recruiting new members and among them non-standard workers.
Report 111. Viking - Laval - Rüffert: consequences and policy perspectives
By Andreas Bücker and Wiebke Warneck
The Viking-Laval – Rüffert cases raise the question of the relationship between market freedoms and fundamental social rights, with a particular focus on the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike. In its rulings on these cases the ECJ has put in question the traditional relationship between market freedoms on a European level and national systems of industrial relations. This publication, part of a project entitled ‘The ECJ’s Viking, Laval and Rüffert judgements: Consequences and Policy Perspectives’ was prepared by a group of academic lawyers and practitioners. Its focus is to analyse from both a legal and policy perspective the consequences the ECJ decisions have on national industrial relations systems.
WP 2010.01
After Lisbon - Social Europe at the crossroads?
By Lars Magnussen
This paper is the result of critical discussions held in the framework of the SALTSA project on the post-2010 continuation of the Lisbon process. The general conclusion is that Europe will continue to need, in the future, a common strategy for growth and sustainable development which builds on the experiences of the ‘old’ Lisbon strategy. That is why the paper starts with analysing the Lisbon process and discussing its various shortcomings. The author argues that a genuinely new strategy will have to adopt a generally different approach when setting priorities.
WP 2009.11
The EU and supplementary pensions. Instruments for integration and the market for occupational pensions in Europe
By Igor Guardiancich and David Natali
Reliance on private retirement pensions is on the increase both at Member State level, via the spread of quasi-mandatory occupational plans, and at EU level, as a result of initiatives including the IORP Directive. This Working Paper analyses the legislative and market trends that underpin this development, assessing the impact of the global financial crisis, presenting the regulatory improvements required, and delineating the future prospects of the market for supplementary pensions.
WP 2009.10
Public / private mix in pensions in Europe. The role of state, market and social partners in supplementary pensions
By David Natali
This Working Paper sheds light on the multi-dimensional and changing interplay between state, market institutions and social partners in relation to supplementary pension schemes, the importance of which is growing across Europe. The paper offers a lucid analysis of the responsibility shared among these three sets of actors to protect against the risk of old age by developing the provision of privately managed fully-funded schemes.
Report 109. Climate change, the environment and jobs in UNI europa's sectors
This report aims to explore the future of employment in the European service industry from a sustainable development perspective, particularly in an environmental sense of the word. It also aims, based on best practices, to propose avenues for initiating social dialogue in services on environmental issues.
WP 2009.09
Government and trade union responses to the economic crisis in the financial sector
This working paper provides an overview of government and trade union responses to the economic crisis in the financial sector. It provides a comparative presentation of trade union and government responses to the crisis with particular emphasis on the country-specific conditions and practices of collective bargaining and social dialogue. It is based on a survey carried out among financial sector unions affiliated to Uni-Europa.
