European trade union policy and collective bargaining- mechanisms and levels of labour market regulation in comparison

Abstract

The trade unions' collective bargaining policy must safeguard the working conditions of all workers who are competing with each other on the labour market. Two basic, alternative mechanisms are available to this end: (1) the collective agreement may be signed at a level which covers all the relevant employees; or (2) several collective agreements may be signed at a lower level and coordinated so as to enable an equivalent settlement of working conditions for all the employees concerned. This analysis examines the prospects for setting up a European collective bargaining system. It considers, first of all, the institutional and organisational factors that will influence the development of such a system. Secondly, it assesses which collective bargaining policy mechanisms and levels would, within the prevailing context, be most appropriate for a Europe-wide regulation of the labour market.