Industrial Relations and Protection of the Environment: Research Findings from a New Policy Field

Abstract

Since 1991 a research group has investigated the relationship between environmental policies and the industrial relations systems in 10 European countries. It might be expected that the growing importance of the environment as a policy issue would prompt an enlargement of the traditional agenda of industrial relations systems, leading to stronger inclusion of the social partners in environmental action; but in the main, evidence of such enlargement has been sparse. The Netherlands, where works councils legislation has been used to extend collective rights for greater environmental involvement, stood out as the exception. Elsewhere, initiatives have been mostly confined to company-level voluntary agreements, with certain sectors playing a prominent role. Very few attempts have been made to develop the environmental role of industrial relations actors through legislation. A number of explanations for this relatively slow progress are explored, as are the prospects for developments in the future.

Union Renewal and Workplace Greening — Three Case Studies

“…There is no prima facie reason why the content of trade unionism could not be extended to environmental concerns and solidarities; however, Gregory et al . (: 159) note that new agendas must often compete with older, more pressing ones and Dufour and Hege () argue that new agendas too distant from core concerns are unlikely to achieve renewal. Thus, in terms of recruiting new members and activists the issues seem to be how important is the environment to existing and prospective members and can an active, collective identity coalesce around it?…”

“…For example, Gregory et al . (: 152–9) found that most European unions’ environmental roles at company level, whilst providing them with information rights, cast them as trouble‐shooters rather than strategic partners.…”

“…But although not yet a core union concern increasing numbers of British unions are becoming environmentally active (Farnhill 2016). Past research has shown some positive benefits for unions of environmental activism (Gregory et al 1999;Snell and Fairbrother 2010;TUC 2008TUC , 2010TUC , 2014 and union grey materials suggests workplace greening forms the bulk of their environmental activities. Workplace greening comprises site-or employerspecific bottom-up interventions involving union branches -ideally working in partnership with employers -conducting environmental audits to secure measurable energy savings and improvements in organizations' recycling, waste, water usage and procurement practices.…”

„Wenn wir nicht mehr wachsen, wie verteilen wir dann um?“

“…Die über die Auswirkungen der Globalisierung entstandene Verbindungslinie zwischen Umweltthemen und Gewerkschaften (vgl. ILO 2002;Gregory et al 1999) manifestierte sich auch in Österreich an Kampagnen wie "STOP-GATS" oder der "Sozialforumsbewegung".…”

Strategies for Sustainable Business and the Handling of Workers’ Interests: Integrated Management Systems and Worker Participation

“…Therefore, the labour movement changed its strategy towards the environment, seeing opportunities in environmental improvements as possibilities to ensure long-term employment interests. The labour movement also wanted to use the environmental agenda in the development of the members' working conditions and strengthen the prevention of health risks at the workplace level (Gregory et al, 2001). Furthermore, trade unions' new orientation towards sustainability provided an opportunity for the movement to strengthen its societal engagement and to maintain the movement as an organization with a project for societal change.…”