Social Partners in the EU

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Subjects

Social partnership in different socio-economic models Social partnership: areas of influence Collective bargaining Social partners in the EU: who? Social partnership in the EU: what? EU Social Partnership: how? EU Social Partnership: results EU Social Partnership and links to social security

Negotiation strategies

Positional negotiation Position dominates Own interest position Mistrust Looking for weak spot Win-lose Adversarial Hard – cold – no relation Opponents Emotion allowed

Integrative negotiation Interest dominates Assessing all interests Mutual trust Strengthening each other Win-win Compromise Soft on the relation – hard

on the content Partners Emotion excluded

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Nordic model Government: mostly coalitions of diverse

political direction (3 parties or more) Role of government: seeking balance in

interest positions Role of employers organisations:

“enlightened employers”; using society developments for own interests, “corporate social responsibility”

Role of trade unions: open to development / innovation – status quo not “sacred”; economic realism

Social partnership basis: integrative negotiation

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Rhineland model Government: mostly coalitions, though with

less variety (2 parties) Role of government: leading in the different

interest positions Role of employers organisations:

comparable to Nordic, slightly more focussed on own interest position

Role of trade unions: focus is more on protection and defense of current rights

Social partnership basis: integrative negotiation with some positional elements

Anglo-Saxon model Government: mostly 1 party governments

with strong ideological differences Role of government: enforcing own

programme Role of employers organisations: more

classical capitalistic orientation, focussed on own economic interest position

Role of trade unions: focussed on defense of rights and high wages for members, own interest position rules

Social partnership basis: positional negotiation – conflict sensitive

Mediterranean model• Government: mostly coalitions, dominated

by one party• Role of government: non-governmental

coalitions, depending on subjects• Role of employers organisations: focussed

on own interest positions• Role of trade unions: focussed on defense

of established rights and increasing wages• Social partnership: positional orientation,

incidental coalitions, high conflict sensitivity

Social Partnership: operational levels

Company (sub-) Sector(regional)

Central National EU

Shop stewards

Framework Agreement

Central agreement(pensions, wage increments)

Socio-economic policies

Tomorrow…

Works council Collective bargaining

Advice procedures legislation

Collective bargaining

(Pension) funds

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Tripartite level: Government, EmployersOrganisations & Trade Unions

Bipartite; Coordination level (central) Employers organisations & trade unions

Collective Bargaining Agreement

Written, legally enforceable contract for a specified period (usually one year),

Between Employers (organisations) and Trade Union(s) About conditions of employment

Wages (including job descriptions and classification) Working hours and conditions Overtime payments, holidays, vacations, benefits Additional social security Procedures for dispute resolution.

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Collective bargaining, how

Framework for wage costs development (TU): Productivity + inflation = basis for negotiations (tax and premium developments are excluded)

Tailored to company or sector circumstances Trade unions unify their different proposals Proposals of employers and trade unions Start of the negotiations…. “Fireworks” (wage increment) mostly at the end of the

process

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Works council Advisory body, consisting of (elected) employee representatives Deliberating with – and advising the employer on matters related

to the development of a company: Organisational development / change Work- holiday schedules Health & safety issues Important investments (strategic) cooperation

Often in bigger companies you can see works councils on plant-level, a central works council and even a European works council

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National Tripartite level: Socio-economic Council Deliberation between central level Employers Organisations, Trade Unions &

Government Subjects are related to broad overall socio-economic policies, for instance:

Social security Education Healthcare Employment policies Health & safety Environment Urban planning Taxation Doing business

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Social Partnership: why?

Helps understanding and respecting different interest positions

Broad commitment Industrial stability Improves economic development

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The Social Partners in the EU Employers Organisations on European level:

Cross-sectoral Sectoral

Trade Unions on European level: Cross-sectoral Sectoral

Chambers of Commerce and Industry on European level: Eurochambres

All organise Member State organisations that organise members Some are federations of federations of organisations Influence of actual members is not “very direct”….

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Social Partners in the EU The Commission publishes a list of European social partner

organisations. At present, the list includes 75 organisations and is divided

into five groups: General cross-industry organisations (CEEP, ETUC, BusinessEurope) Cross-industry organisations representing certain categories of

workers or undertakings (Eurocadres, UEAPME, CEC) Specific organisations (Eurochambres) Sectoral organisations with no cross-industry affiliation (53

organisations) European trade union organisations (15 organisations).

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Form of EU Social Partnership Promotion of a European Social Dialogue organised in:

Social Dialogue Committee (SDC) (cross-industry) SDC working groups and seminars Negotiations towards bi- or tri-partite agreements Social dialogue summits

Sectoral social dialogue committees Related to specific sectors or categories on European level Consist of organisations who are integral and recognised part of MS

social partner structures Have the capacity to negotiate agreements

Both bipartite and tripartite activities

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Results Agreements implemented by Council Directive

Revised framework agreement on parental leave (2008) Framework agreement on fixed-term contracts (1999) Framework agreement on part-time work (1997) Framework agreement on parental leave (1996)

Autonomous agreements implemented by Social partners Framework agreement on inclusive labour markets (2010) Framework agreement on harassment and violence at work (2007) Framework agreement on work-related stress (2004) Framework agreement on telework (2002)

Consultations on any new social European initiative Renewed Social Agenda Employment Rights at work Social Protection and social inclusion Gender equality EU social security coordination At least ….. In theory….

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EU social partnership and links to social security

Inclusion Parental leave Transferability of supplementary pensions Flexibility of working time and security Health and safety issues Disability strategy Promoting solidarity between generations Coordination of social security benefits >>

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Coordination of social security benefits “Movers” are covered by the legislation of one country (pay contributions once) Same rights and obligations as the nationals Previous periods of insurance, work or residence in other countries are taken into

account if necessary. Cash benefits are – generally – “exportable” Social security institutions will coordinate Applies to:

sickness, maternity and equivalent paternity benefits old-age pensions, pre-retirement and invalidity benefits survivors’ benefits and death grants unemployment benefits family benefits benefits in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases

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