The Evolution of European Social Dialogue

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The Evolution of European Social Dialogue

• Round Table on Social Dialogue
• in the Private Security Sector
• Riga - 22 March 2006
• Marta Pradanos, European Commission,
• DG Employment Social Affairs

2
Employer organisation rate
3
Union Density
gt 55
45 - 55
35 - 45
15 - 35
lt 15
4
Bargaining Coverage
Less 40
5
The 2 pillars of European Social Dialogue
Bargaining area (Joint initiatives)
Consultation
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The Path of European Social Dialogue I

• 1985- "Val Duchesse" launch of the bipartite
  social dialogue (interprofessional)
• 1992- Treaty of Maastricht social partners must
  be consulted and may negotiate agreements
• 1995- First framework agreement concluded by
  social partners according to art. 139 and
  implemented by Council Directive (parental leave)
• 1997- Treaty of Amsterdam confirms the
  fundamental role of social partners.
• 1997- Second framework agreement, implemented by
  a Directive (part-time work)

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The Path of European Social Dialogue II

• 1998- Commission Communication "Adapting and
  Promoting the SD at the EU level" instituting
  sectoral social dialogue committees (bipartite)
• 1999- Third framework agreement, implemented
  through a Directive (fixed-term contracts)
• 2001- Social partners at the Laeken European
  Council demand more autonomous social dialogue
• 2002- Commission Communication "The European
  Social Dialogue, a force for innovation and
  change"
• 2002- First autonomous agreement to be
  implemented and monitored by social partners
  themselves (teleworking)

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The Path of European Social Dialogue III

• 2004- Commission Communication "Partnership for
  change in an enlarged Europe"
• 2004- Second autonomous agreement to be
  implemented and monitored by social partners
  themselves (work-related stress)
• 2005- Mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy
  European Council reiterates the importance of
  social partners for the achievement of the
  strategic objectives of Growth and Employment

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To sum up the path of European Social Dialogue
Trade Unions
Commission
Employers
2002-...
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Instruments of Employment and Social Policy
Legislation Mobility - Gender equality Health and
Safety
European Social Funds
European Social Dialogue
Social Agenda
Open Method of Coordination Employment Social
protection
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The place of social dialogue at European level

• Strong Institutional recognition
• Article 138 of the EC Treaty
• The European Commission
• promotes consultation of social partners at
  Community level
• facilitates their dialogue
• ensures a balanced support of both sides

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The place of social dialogue at European level

• Strong Institutional recognition
• Article 139 of the EC Treaty
• The Community dialogue between the social
  partners can lead, if they wish, to contractual
  relations, including agreements
• Agreements shall be implemented either according
  with national procedures in each Member State or,
  at the joint request of the parties, by a Council
  Decision on a proposal from the Commission

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Understanding Art. 138 139
Council
Social Partners
Commission
Consultation
No negotiation or failure
Negotiation
Opinions
Legislative process
Extension procedure
Agreement implemented by a Decision
Autonomous Agreement to be implemented by
social partners
NATIONAL PROCEDURES PRACTICES
LEGISLATION
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European social partners

• Cross-industry organisations
• (UNICE, CEEP, ETUC)
• Cross-industry organisations representing certain
  categories of workers or undertakings (CEC,
  Eurocadres, UEAPME)
• Sectoral organisations representing employers
  organisations or workers unions

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Tripartite dialogue
Tripartite Social Summit for growth and
employment Social partners - Commission - Troïka
of Heads of State and Government and Ministers
Macro-economic dialogue
Dialogue on social protection
Dialogue on employment
Dialogue on vocational training
Meeting with the Social Affairs Ministers on the
social protection strategy
Meeting with ECB Social partners give their
assessment on the economic and social situation
Meeting with the Social Affairs Ministers on
the European Employment Strategy
Meeting with the troïka of the Education Ministers
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Bipartite dialogue

• Voluntary
• Autonomous
• Commission support
• Cross-industry dialogue
• Sectoral dialogue
• 31 Sectoral dialogue committees established
• (Commerce, Agriculture, Banking, Insurance,
  Postal Services, Rail Transport, Construction)

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Sectoral social dialogue committees
Live perform.
Temporary work
Chemical
Insurance
Telecom.
Woodworking
Inland waterways.
Maritime transp.
Textile/clothing
Cleaning industry
Road transp.
Tanning/leather
Sugar
Horeca
Railways
Shipbuilding
Commerce
Private Security
Furniture
Civil aviation
Postal serv.
Mines
Footwear
Banking
Personal serv.
Sea fishing
Electricity
Audiovisual
Local government
Agriculture
Construction
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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees
23 500 000
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Topics addressed by the social dialogue
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What outcomes can be expected of the social
dialogue?
Agreements establishing standards Article 139.2
of the Treaty
Framework agreements
Autonomous agreements
Frameworks of action
Recommendations concerning standards and
principles
Guidelines and Codes of conduct
Policy orientations
Exchange of information
Joint opinions
Declarations
Tools
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The need for synergies
Tripartite dialogue
Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and
Employment articulation with macroeconomic
dialogue, employment
Bipartite dialogue
Sectoral social dialogue committees
Company level EWC
Val Duchesse Social dialogue
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Enlargement

• Greater need for social dialogue
• Increased diversity
• Technical capacity of national social partners
• Technical capacity of European social partners
• Representativeness

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Social Dialogue Website
www.europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/social_di
alogue

• News
• Cross-industry Social Dialogue
• Sectoral Social Dialogue
• Social Dialogue Toolkit
• What is Social Dialogue?
• Thematic Index
• Representativeness
• Enlargement
• Key Documents
• Industrial Relations Reports
• Grants
• Archives
• Social Dialogue texts database

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Information sources

• Website of the Commission
• http//europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/index_
  en.htm
• EIRO ( European industrial relations observatory
  online)
• http//www.eiro.eurofound.ie/
• Commission official for the social dialogue and
  enlargement
• marta.pradanos-gonzalez_at_cec.eu.int