Describes, analyses, and assesses the European social dialogue from a combined theoretical and normative perspective and applies theoretical strands stemming from industrial relations, EC law, and political theory to an understanding and assessment of the genesis, actors, processes, and outcomes of the European social dialogue through 2007

"SALTSA, a joint programme for working life research in Europe"--P. facing t.p.

This book focuses on the experience of social dialogue in Turkey, which is a European Union candidate country. It argues that social dialogue constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of European social model and therefore should be analysed not only at the supranational level but also at the national, sectoral and workplace levels. The book critically examines social dialogue processes and mechanisms in Turkey at various levels, with focus on the workplace because it is shaped by socio-cultural elements which contain many variables. The book also identifies the shortcomings and structural impediments of social dialogue, and provides an empirically grounded theoretical explanation of social dialogue in Turkey. In the process, the book explains and clarifies key concepts to help readers grasp important points relevant to social dialogue, and contains interviews with social partners to take into consideration their views and recommendations on social dialogue. These in-depth interviews also provide a rare insight into the dynamics of social dialogue on the ground. By looking at social dialogue at various levels, the book offers a balanced view of its strengths and weaknesses in Turkey. This book is a valuable tool for students, academics and researchers interested in understanding the complex dynamics of social dialogue and workplace relations in Turkey.

The crisis has brought social issues back to the center of European debates: the European social model is once again a central stake. But what model are we talking about? The model that encourages and structures social dialogue, Europe ’s true trademark, which has an impact every day, this social dialogue that outlines an innovative, original, effective dialogue, which may be a real asset for globalization. The model that dominates over the very view of the company, which will have to be more human if it is to absorb all the blows it is taking. This collective book was written by practitioners in the field of social issues, HR managers, union members, researchers, European Commission members, or even people involved in social rating or training. This is a multi-author book written by Europeans, driven by their national traditions and who currently face similar challenges – the transfer of knowledge in a context of demographic ageing, the inevitable rise in youth unemployment as well as awareness as regards corporate social responsibility in the company’s ecosystem. It shows us that social Europe is buying built on a day-by-day basis, anticipating and shaping the accession of a new social pact, and that Europe is thus affirming its identity compared with the American or Chinese models.

This unique book offers a comprehensive systematization and overview of the EU´s emerging ‘acquis’ and practice of Collective Labour Law. Although the core aspects of Collective Labour Law lie outside the EU’s competence to regulate, the laws and industrial relations systems of Member States are undoubtedly influenced by the EU, and the involvement of Social Partners, i.e. representatives of employers and workers, is essential for many aspects of EU law and policy.

At a time of seemingly unrelenting economic crisis, with social Europe appearing to be cruelly absent from the scene, the place and the role of the social partners needs to be urgently addressed at both the national and the European levels. While national professional relations have been built up over more than a century in individual ways in each one of our member countries on the basis of the given historical context, through different struggles and in different ways, European social dialogue first saw the light of day in a voluntary manner a mere thirty years ago and it aspired to play an active role in the construction of Europe. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the "Val Duchesse" meetings, the Jacques Delors Institute publishes this policy paper by Jean Lapeyre, in which he traces the birth (part 1), evolution (part 2) and future prospects (part 3) of the European Social Dialogue. The first six years of European social dialogue made it possible to lay the groundwork for a bargaining area and for the social partners to play a role in the governance of the EU. The following fourteen years witnessed the conclusion of the first European interprofessional and sectoral agreements and the diversification of social dialogue at the level of businesses operating in the European area. The past ten years have proven more difficult and the European Social Dialogue now seems to be treading water, suffering from an EU enlargement that has yet to be fully digested, a crisis that seems to be never-ending, a weakening of collective bargaining and a European Commission weaker and more reluctant to adopt any kind of social initiative, bowing to pressure from the member states. Is this a cause for despair, or on the contrary, should we act to impart a fresh boost to social dialogue and to the quality of its achievements? There are paths allowing us to do so, and while they primarily concern the social partners, they also call the European Commission into play. They are discussed in the final part of the Policy paper and they include consolidating the achievements of social dialogue; structuring social dialogue on a stronger and more independent basis; establishing a "euro area" for social dialogue; coordinating the European and global areas; and developing the complementary character of social dialogue and civil dialogue.