Trade Unions and ‘Europe’: Are the Members Out of Step?

Hyman, Richard

doi:10.2139/ssrn.1550950

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…'If the EU goes down, nobody will weep' (Streeck, 2016). For many years, despite the often sceptical views of many of their members, the position of the ETUC and most affiliates could be summarised as: more Europe, but more social (Hyman, 2010). Hence the ETUC response to the Brexit vote has involved a campaign to put 'Social Rights First', so that CJEU decisions and Commission policies would no longer privilege market freedoms over social and employment protection.…”

Section: Political Repercussions Across Europementioning

confidence: 99%

What about the workers? The implications of Brexit for British and European labour

Gumbrell‐McCormick

Hyman

2017

Competition & Change

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In June 2016, a small majority of voters called for Britain to leave the EU. In this article we discuss the referendum itself and the form which Brexit may take. It has become clear that the current UK government is committed to a 'hard' Brexit which will rupture most existing ties with the EU. While much uncertainty remains, there are alarming indications that 'regaining sovereignty' -a key slogan of the Brexit campaign -will translate into abject subservience to the most erratic right-wing US administration in history. We examine the implications of Brexit for labour rights in general and for British trade union participation in European Works Councils in particular: there are many reasons for apprehension. We assess the economic and political fall-out, and end by exploring possible consequences for international trade union solidarity in Europe. In general, trade union policy-makers in Europe are committed to resisting 'divide-and-rule' strategies by employers, but there will undoubtedly be tensions.

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Section: Political Repercussions Across Europementioning

confidence: 99%

What about the workers? The implications of Brexit for British and European labour

Gumbrell‐McCormick

Hyman

2017

Competition & Change

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“…Unions’ capacity to secure favourable political exchanges in a direct democracy also very much depend on organised labour’s capacity to act in unison. But whereas neo-corporatist political exchanges also require ‘some degree of heteronomy with regard to the selection of [union] leaders and the articulation of [union] demands’ (Schmitter and Grote, 1997: 4), union leaders cannot afford to be ‘out of step’ with their membership if they want to be effective in a direct democracy (Hyman, 2010). Incidentally, this does not imply giving in to anti-immigrant demands that seek to restrict the free movement of people, as argued by several pundits after the UK Brexit vote.…”

Section: Direct Democracy From Above – Trade Union Experiencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct democracy and trade union action

Erne

Bläser²

2018

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research

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Until recently, the political influence of trade unions primarily relied on ties to labour-friendly political parties. Since the 1990s, however, party-union relations have deteriorated, forcing unions to consider complementary political strategies. This article reviews different direct democratic instruments at local, national and EU levels. We distinguish popular consultations initiated by government from above from citizens' initiatives from below and discuss corresponding trade union experiences in Germany, Italy, Ireland, Slovenia and Switzerland. We also analyse the successful right2water European Citizens Initiative (ECI) of the European Federation of Public Service Unions and the failed fair transport ECI of the European Transport Workers' Federation at EU level. Whereas unions have successfully used direct democratic instruments to (i) defend social achievements or (i) as a lever to extract policy concessions, direct democracy is also challenging. Successful direct democratic campaigns require unions that are able to mobilise their own rank-and-file and to inspire larger sections of society.

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“…It is also difficult for the ETUC itself to offer a principled critique of the EU's neoliberal line. This has probably less to do with the fact that important ETUC institutions are co-financed by the EU -although this should not be entirely discounted -but mainly because of the previous stance of the social democratic majority within the ETUC's affiliated unions (see Hyman, 2009). Their closeness to social democratic governing parties has been a major factor in the ETUC's support of the so-called 'European processes', from Maastricht to Lisbon.…”

Section: The Trade Unionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Where is the European general strike? Understanding the challenges of trans-European trade union action against austerity

Dribbusch¹

2015

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research

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The 2011 ETUC Congress in Athens adopted a proposal by two Spanish trade union confederations that called on the ETUC to examine the possibility of undertaking coordinated European strikes, including a European general strike. These strikes never materialized and the ETUC's European Day of Action on 14 November 2012 was less a powerful expression of panEuropean solidarity than a reflection of precisely the social division that it was mounted to combat. This article explores some major determinants of solidarity. It then identifies major constraints on building international solidarity. This is followed by a brief outline of the preconditions of collective action. The transnational campaign of dockworkers against the so-called Port Packages in 2003 and 2006 and the mobilization against the Bolkestein Directive in 2006 are chosen as examples of successful transnational action that illustrate both the challenges met by unions and the factors that favour success. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the more difficult conditions and prospects for transnational action against the current European austerity measures. Ré suméLe congrès 2011 de la CES à Athènes a adopté une proposition présentée par deux confédérations syndicales espagnoles appelant la CES à étudier la possibilité d'entreprendre des grèves européennes coordonnées, y compris une grève générale européenne. Ces grèves ne se sont jamais concrétisées et la journée européenne d'action de la CES le 14 novembre 2012 était moins l'expression puissante d'une solidarité paneuropéenne que le reflet de la division sociale qu'une telle journée était préc-isément supposée combattre. L'article examine certains déterminants majeurs de la solidarité. Il identifie également trois contraintes majeures pesant sur la solidarité internationale. Il présente ensuite un bref aperçu des déterminants de l'action collective. La campagne transnationale des dockers contre ce que l'on a appelé les « paquets portuaires » en 2003 et 2006 et la mobilisation contre la directive Bolkestein en 2006 sont prises comme exemple d'actions

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Trade Unions and ‘Europe’: Are the Members Out of Step?

Cited by 15 publications

References 74 publications

What about the workers? The implications of Brexit for British and European labour

What about the workers? The implications of Brexit for British and European labour

Direct democracy and trade union action

Where is the European general strike? Understanding the challenges of trans-European trade union action against austerity

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