Over the last twenty years there has been a widespread decline in trade union membership throughout most of western Europe. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, unionisation in many eastern European states has collapsed at an even more dramatic rate. In Poland, for example, today's 14 % level of unionisation is in marked contrast to that of the Soviet-controlled era, when almost all workplaces were unionised. Most of those who remain trade union members in Poland work for former state-owned companies.
In only 8 out of the current 27 member states of the European Union (EU) are more than half of the employed population members of a trade union. In fact, the EU's four most populated states all have modest levels of unionisation, with Italy at 30%, the UK 29%, Germany 27% and France at only 9%.
As a consequence, three out of every four people employed in the EU are now not members of a trade union. Furthermore, in every EU country outside Scandinavia (except Belgium), trade union membership is either static or continues to decline. Even in the UK, where a clear formal procedure for trade union recognition was introduced through the 1999 Employment Relations Act, the unionisation of employees has remained stable.
FedEE estimates that, in the medium term, the average level of unionisation across the EU will fall even further - from 26.3% today to just under 20% by 2010.
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Industrial relations climate
Freedom of association guaranteed by law/constitution? Yes (except armed services). Collective agreements? Yes - almost wholly at plant/company level in private sector.
Proportion of workforce in trade unions: 26% (17% in private sector).
Legal protection from discrimination against union members? Yes.
Unions have right to strike? Yes, if official.
State mediation on disputes? Yes.
Legal employment framework
Minimum working age: 16 (in industrial enterprises). Statutory minimum wage? Yes.
Standard workweek: Normally 40 hours - but individuals may opt to work in excess of 48 hours a week.
Minimum annual holiday entitlement: 20 days + public holidays (entitlement being phased in).
Further details
Collective bargaining covers approximately 30 percent of the work force. Unions enjoy obligatory recognition under the Employment Relations Act 1999. Although the law encourages voluntary agreements between employers and unions, the Central Arbitration Committee may, if necessary, impose a legally binding procedure for bargaining about pay, hours, and holidays.
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Industrial relations climate
Freedom of association guaranteed by law/constitution? Yes
Collective agreements? Yes - widespread at company and sectoral level.
Proportion of workforce in trade unions: 33% in the private sector.
Legal protection from discrimination against union members? Yes (and also against retribution).
Unions have right to strike? Yes - but not military or police.
State mediation on disputes? Yes.
Legal employment framework
Minimum working age: 16 (from 14 for light work in holidays).
Statutory minimum wage? Yes.
Standard work week: 39 hours (max 48 hours).
Minimum annual holiday entitlement: 20 days + public holidays.
Further details
Most basic terms and conditions of employment are determined through collective bargaining in the context of a national economic pact. The Labour Relations Commission, established by the Industrial Relations Act of 1990, provides advice and conciliation services in industrial disputes. The Commission may refer unresolved disputes to the Labour Court, which has the power to investigate disputes, recommend the terms of settlement, engage in conciliation and arbitration, and set up joint committees to regulate conditions of employment and minimum rates of pay for workers in a particular trade or industry.
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Industrial relations climate
Freedom of association guaranteed by law/constitution? Yes (in constitution).
Collective agreements? Yes - multilevel agreements covering 90% of workforce.
Proportion of workforce in trade unions: 8%
Legal protection from discrimination against union members? Yes.
Unions have right to strike? Yes - and they use it frequently.
Legal employment framework
Minimum working age: 16 (but limitations until 18).
Statutory minimum wage? Yes.
Standard workweek: 35 hours (overtime limited to 220 hours per year).
Minimum annual holiday entitlement: 25 days (often extended through collective agreement) + public holidays.
Further details
Works councils must be established in every business that has 50 or more employees. These are subject to elections every 2 years. The institutional role of organised labour in France is far greater than its numerical strength. The government regularly consults union leaders on economic and social issues, and joint works councils play an important role even in industries that are only marginally unionised.
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Industrial relations climate
Freedom of association guaranteed by law/constitution? Yes (Basic Law).
National/sectoral collective agreement(s)? Yes - covering two-thirds of workforce.
Proportion of workforce in trade unions: 23%
Legal protection from discrimination against union members? Yes.
Unions have right to strike? Yes.
Legal employment framework
Minimum working age: 15 (but with some exceptions).
Statutory minimum wage? No - but protection through collective agreements.
Standard workweek: 40 hours (36 for white-collar workers).
Minimum annual holiday entitlement: 20 days + public holidays.
Further details
German law has established a system of work councils with broad rights of "codetermination" on some aspects of company policy and practice. In addition, employee representatives sit on the supervisory boards of companies registered in Germany.
Basic wages and working conditions are negotiated at an industry level between trade unions and employer associations. However, some firms (especially in eastern Germany) have refused to join employer associations, or have withdrawn from them and then bargained independently with unions. A number of large firms in the western Lander have withdrawn at least part of their workforce from the jurisdiction of the employers association, complaining of rigidities in the centralised negotiating system.
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Industrial relations climate
Freedom of association guaranteed by law/constitution? Yes.
Collective agreements? Yes - widespread at all levels.
Proportion of workforce in trade unions: 30%
Legal protection from discrimination against union members? Yes.
Unions have right to strike? Yes, and lockouts are illegal.
State mediation on disputes? Yes - for lengthy disputes.
Legal employment framework
Minimum working age: 16
Statutory minimum wage? Yes (includes 13th and 14th month bonus).
Standard workweek: 40 hours (8 hours per day).
Minimum annual holiday entitlement: 25 days (reduced for work absence to 22) + public holidays
Further details
Employee rights are subject to a comprehensive labour code. When collective negotiations fail, the government may appoint a mediator, but only with the agreement of the parties. Five days notice must be given before a strike may occur in the private sector. If a union calls a prolonged strike, the government may order the strike to be suspended for a certain period. During strikes, minimum essential services must be maintained.
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Industrial relations climate
Freedom of association guaranteed by law/constitution? Yes.
Collective agreements? Yes (covering 50% of workers).
Proportion of workforce in trade unions: 25%
Legal protection from discrimination against union members? Yes, and generally respected.
Unions have right to strike? Yes (except in certain public sector occupations). There is very little strike activity.
Legal employment framework
Minimum working age: 15 (but children aged 13-14 may work for short periods).
Statutory minimum wage? No - largely set by collective agreement.
Standard workweek (FT employees]: 40-45 hours.
Minimum annual holiday entitlement: 20 days (25 if under 20 yrs old) +public holidays.
Further details
The right to strike is legally recognised, but the inclusion of no-strike clauses in collective agreements has meant that generally less than ten strikes take place each year.
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