Strengthening Social Dialogue in the Construction Industry

1
Strengthening Social Dialogue in the Construction
Industry

• National Seminar Malta
• June 2006
• Edited by Freek Thomasson

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What is social dialogue at European level?

• a joint consultation procedure involving the
  social partners at European level.
• it includes
• discussion
• joint action
• sometimes negotiations between the European
  employers and trade unions

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Bipartite social dialogue

• two groups of representative social partners
• trade unions and
• employers organisations
• autonomous
• various levels (and hierarchy)

4
Triangle of industrial relations

National government European Commission
CAPITAL Employer Organisations National
level EU-level
LABOUR Trade Unions National level EU-level
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Social dialogue

• objectives of governement
• political objectives
• force of stability, reform and innovation
• objectives of trade unions
• political objectives
• workers protection
• objectives of employers organisations
• political objectives
• social peace
• autodetermination

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Characteristics of the construction industry

• strong economical multiplicator effect
• complicated employment relations
• traditional
• progressive
• strong dependance of external factors
• influence of climate
• complex production proces
• highly regulated (HS, public procurement, )
• image problem 3Ds Dirty, Dangerious, Difficult
• fragile sector
• economical
• social

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Common interests of the social partners

• sustainability
• rentability
• competivity

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How to translate these common interests into
actions at national level?

• strong social relations
• social partners
• social dialogue - negotiations
• strong social funds
• pension funds
• social security funds
• occupational health and safety funds
• vocational and professional training funds
• regulatory aspects
• joint actions of employers and trade unions

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How to translate these common interests into
actions at national level?

• strong social relations
• social partners
• social dialogue - negotiations
• strong social funds
• pension funds
• social security funds
• occupational health and safety funds
• vocational and professional training funds
• regulatory aspects
• joint actions of employers and trade unions

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Levels of collective bargaining (wages)
GOVERNMENT
TRADE UNIONS Intersectoral level
EMPLOYERS Intersectoral level
Slovenia
TRADE UNIONS Sectoral level
EMPLOYERS Sectoral level
Cyprus Slovakia
Czech Rep. Estonia Hungary Latvia Malta Poland Lit
huania
TRADE UNIONS Company level
EMPLOYERS Company level
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Levels of collective bargaining (wages)
GOVERNMENT
Belgium Finland Ireland
TRADE UNIONS Intersectoral level
EMPLOYERS Intersectoral level
Austria Denmark Germany Greece Italy Luxembourg Ne
therlands Portugal Spain Sweden
TRADE UNIONS Sectoral level
EMPLOYERS Sectoral level
EMPLOYERS Company level
TRADE UNIONS Company level
France UK
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General information

• Contact person in EFBWW
• Werner Buelen
• Email werner_at_efbh.org
• Website of EFBWW www.efbh.org
• Telephone [phone]