Globalisation, international crisis and employment relations in Europe
The 2008 financial crisis marked the beginning of a prolonged period of extreme economic turmoil that has created multiple challenges to national systems in the areas of labour, employment, social protection and industrial relations. Were these challenges already present and resulting from the process of globalization or were they triggered by the global crisis? Have the changes observed been challenging institutions and policies in Europe? What were the national responses and the European policy response and what shifts have been observed? How have trade unions and the emergent social movements responded and what new challenges are they facing?
The course focuses on globalisation and challenges in relation to labour markets and employment relations. The changes introduced by information technology, multinational companies, world trade rules and new migrations are examined as crucial factors of globalisation, which might impact in labour relations and labour rights, and challenge the traditional national-centred practices and strategies of social actors (namely employers organisations and trade unions). The course examines the impact of the financial and economic crisis and austerity policies in European countries from a comparative perspective with focus on: labour law reforms and labour market flexibility, wage and working time flexibility arrangements, collective bargaining decentralization and employees participation; employment protection and flexicurity, and active labour market policies.
The course will examine supranational European policies and trends in relation to austerity and labour market reforms and their impact on member states labour market regulations.
The course focus on how those trends are challenging previous patterns of employment relations in European countries taking into consideration the different varieties of capitalism, of industrial relations systems and welfare models.
The course focus also on the strategies and responses of labour market actors, and bargaining processes, in European countries, at the local, sector national and supranational level, and the role played by European supranational institutions in relation to those processes. In addition, the course addresses the emergence of social movements in Europe and their connection with trade unionism and their role in relation to labour and social rights.