CROSS-BORDER SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND AGREEMENTS: An ...

Cross-border social dialogue and agreements
and should not put at risk nor undermine collective bargaining achievements
at other levels (ICFTU, 2004b).
Both the ICFTU and the ETUC share a positive but cautious
approach to transnational social dialogue and collective bargaining at
company level, stressing in particular that employees must be represented
by trade unions and that transnational social dialogue at that level, as well
as its outcome, should not undermine collective bargaining at other levels.
Next steps
Between 2004 and 2007, the initiative of the Commission evolved
and gained in focus: the proposal that initially involved a “Community
framework for transnational collective bargaining” embracing transnational
collective bargaining at company, trans-border and sectoral levels,
now concerns an optional framework for European framework agreements
that are signed by EWCs in most cases.
Recognizing that launching a legislative proposal for a framework
for transnational collective bargaining and the associated formal consultation
of the social partners would be premature at this stage, the Commission
intends to take stock of the situation and make proposals for further
steps in a communication now planned for mid-2008.
References
Ales, E. et al. 2006. “Transnational collective bargaining: Past, present and future”. Final
report to the European Commission, Directorate General Employment, Social
Affairs and Equal Opportunities, (Brussels). Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/
employment_social/labour_law/docs/transnational_agreements_ales_study_en.p
df [20 Jan. 2008]
Ales, E. Forthcoming. “Establishing an optional legal framework for an EU transnational
collective bargaining system: Grounds, instrument and contents of a suitable
EC law intervention”, Discussion Paper Series (International Institute for
Labour Studies, Geneva).
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). 2004. ETUC’s comments on the Commission
communication “Partnership for Change in an Enlarged Europe:
Enhancing the Contribution of European Social Dialogue”, adopted by the
ETUC Executive Committee, (Brussels), 1 Dec. 2004. Available at: http://
education.etui-rehs.org/en/eu_information/library/6aDSFutpers-EN4-adopted.
pdf [Dec. 2007].
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