One of the main challenges in labour relations in Europe is the ongoing decentralisation of collective bargaining from national and sectoral levels to company levels. Decentralisation might be an answer to business needs in competitiveness and organisational flexibility. However, it risks erosion of collective bargaining structures, more inequality in employment conditions and fragmentation in trade unions’ powers.

Based on recent qualitative research, this book shows high varieties across European countries and economic sectors in degrees, forms and impacts of decentralisation. The authors explore, in interdisciplinary and multi-level perspectives, continuity and change in regulating and practicing collective bargaining in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. In cross-country comparisons, company case studies in manufacturing and retail show the divergent effects of national regimes and social partners’ power resources on trade unions’ strategies and influence in company bargaining.

Dr. Frank Tros is senior researcher at AIAS-HSI, University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands). He is experienced in labour relations, collective bargaining, social dialogue and co-determination in the Netherlands and in cross-country comparisons. He initiated and coordinated the research project Comparisons in Decentralised Bargaining (CODEBAR), co-financed by the European Commission (2020-2022).

1. Decentralisation of collective bargaining: comparing institutional change and company practices in Europe (Frank Tros)
2. Decentralised bargaining and the role of law (Niels Jansen)
3. Decentralisation of collective bargaining in the manufacturing sector (Thomas Haipeter, Ilaria Armaroli, Andrea Iossa, Mia Rönnmar)
4. Decentralisation of collective bargaining in the retail sector (Valentina Paolucci, Jan Czarzasty, Ana Belen Muñoz Ruiz, Nuria Ramos Martín)
5. Interplay between state and collective bargaining, comparing France and Spain (Ana Belén Muñoz Ruiz, Nuria Ramos Martín, Catherine Vincent)
6. Does decentralisation leads to new relationships between trade unions and works councils ? Germany and the Netherlands compared (Sophie Rosenbohm, Frank Tros )
7. Trade union participation and influence in decentralised collective bargaining (Mia Rönnmar, Marcus Kahmann, Andrea Iossa, Jan Czarzasty, Valentina Paolucci)
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