Author Description

This major overview of the state of European industrial relations is now available in paper. The last decade has seen a remarkable change in the balance of power in industrial relations in most European countries after the years of industrial militancy and union strength in the 1970s. A widespread shift to the right, high unemployment and changes to the structure of the labour force have all contributed to changing the context and content of management and workforce relations. Among the significant developments has been a new insistence on the part of employers on flexibility in the deployment of labour. How have these changes altered patterns of industrial relations? Have unions been fundamentally weakened? How common is the experience across the countries of Western Europe? Have unions developed counter-strategies? In assessing these questions, the contributors to this book offer a co-ordinated analysis of the current state of industrial relations across the countries of Western Europe.