Training of Trainers Social Dialogue Construction Industry (ACTRAV) Werner Buelen, EFBWW Training of Trainers Social Dialogue Construction Industry (ACTRAV) Werner Buelen, EFBWW European and National Social Dialogue in the Construction Industry

What is “social dialogue”? Social dialogue is the term used to describe a joint consultation procedure involving the social partners at European level. It involves discussion, joint action and sometimes negotiations between the European social partners, and discussions between the social partners and the EU institutions on the future development of Community action and on the content of any social policy proposals Social dialogue is the term used to describe a joint consultation procedure involving the social partners at European level. It involves discussion, joint action and sometimes negotiations between the European social partners, and discussions between the social partners and the EU institutions on the future development of Community action and on the content of any social policy proposals

Bipartite social dialogue vs. Tripartite social concertation Social dialogue: Social dialogue: Two group of representative social partners: Two group of representative social partners: Trade unions and employers org. Trade unions and employers org. Autonomous Autonomous Various levels (and hierarchy) Various levels (and hierarchy) Social concertation: Social concertation: Serveral stakeholders: Serveral stakeholders: Trade unions, employers org., academic, former politicians,... Trade unions, employers org., academic, former politicians,... Not autonomous Not autonomous One level One level

Triangle of industrial relations National government European Commission CAPITAL Employer Organisations -National level -- EU-level LABOUR Trade Unions -National level -- EU-level Strategic triangle of decision making

Levels of collective bargaining (wages) GOVERNMENT TRADE UNIONS Intersectoral level EMPLOYERS’ Intersectoral level TRADE UNIONS Sectoral level EMPLOYERS’ Sectoral level TRADE UNIONS Company level EMPLOYERS’ Company level Slovenia Cyprus Slovakia Czech Rep. Estonia Hungary Latvia Malta Poland Lithuania

Levels of collective bargaining (wages) GOVERNMENT TRADE UNIONS Intersectoral level EMPLOYERS’ Intersectoral level TRADE UNIONS Sectoral level EMPLOYERS’ Sectoral level TRADE UNIONS Company level EMPLOYERS’ Company level Belgium Finland Ireland Austria Denmark Germany Greece Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Portugal Spain Sweden France UK

Social dialogue Aim/objectives of the governement: Aim/objectives of the governement: Political objectives Political objectives Force of stability, reform and innovation Force of stability, reform and innovation Aim/objectives of the trade unions: Aim/objectives of the trade unions: Political objectives Political objectives Workers protection Workers protection Aim/objectives of the employers org. Aim/objectives of the employers org. Political objectives Political objectives Social peace Social peace autodetermination autodetermination

Knowing the construction industry in order to understand its usefulness and necessity of the social relations at company, national and european level in the construction industry

The construction industry Economical Economical Annual turnover of more than €900 billion (EU15) Annual turnover of more than €900 billion (EU15) 90% SME’s 90% SME’s Social Social 12 million employees in the EU15 12 million employees in the EU15 Labour intensive Labour intensive Productivity and rentability are largely determined by the workforce Productivity and rentability are largely determined by the workforce Distinctive characteristics Distinctive characteristics Policymakers frequently use the construction industry as a trend indicator – a cyclical stabiliser of macro-economic trends, restricted in periods with economic expansion and stimulated in periods of recession

The construction industry Distinctive characteristics Strong multiplicator effect: Economical Economical Social Social Complicated employment relations: Complicated employment relations: Traditional Traditional Progressive Progressive Strong dependance of external factors: Strong dependance of external factors: Climatological influeneces/changes Climatological influeneces/changes Complex production proces Complex production proces Highly regulated (H&S, public procurement, …) Highly regulated (H&S, public procurement, …) Image problem: Dirty, Dangerious, Difficult Image problem: Dirty, Dangerious, Difficult Very fragile sector: Very fragile sector: Economical Economical Social Social

Common interest / concern of the social partners Sustainability Sustainability Rentability Rentability Competivity Competivity

How is this common interest / concern of the social partners translated in actions at national level? How is this common interest / concern of the social partners translated in actions at national level? Strong social relations: Strong social relations: Social partners Social partners Social Dialogue/ negociations Social Dialogue/ negociations Strong social funds: Strong social funds: Pensions funds, Pensions funds, Vocational and prof. training funds Vocational and prof. training funds Social security funds Social security funds Occupational health and safety funds Occupational health and safety funds Regulatory aspects: Regulatory aspects: Joint actions Joint actions

How is this common interest / concern of the social partners translated in actions at European level? Well organized: Well organized: European representation (EFBWW, FIEC) European representation (EFBWW, FIEC) European Social Dialogue European Social Dialogue Various specific European Directives: Various specific European Directives: Working on heights Directive; Working on heights Directive; Public procurement Directives Public procurement Directives Posting of Workers Directive Posting of Workers Directive … Efficient joint actions/ lobby Efficient joint actions/ lobby

Chalanges for the future !! Representativity of the social partners Representativity of the social partners Defragmentation of the social partners Defragmentation of the social partners Company structure (large companies) Company structure (large companies) Representative and “willing” opponent Representative and “willing” opponent Instruments: Media, propaganda, documentation, … Instruments: Media, propaganda, documentation, … Visibility of actions/ position Visibility of actions/ position Financial capacities Financial capacities Staff capacities Staff capacities Negotiations capacities Negotiations capacities Politics Politics … …

Social partners organsations

PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT WHAT WHAT To help the trade unions of the new and future Member states in building social dialogue capacities To help the trade unions of the new and future Member states in building social dialogue capacities HOW HOW By gathering social partners and experts to analyse and develop social dialogue capacities By gathering social partners and experts to analyse and develop social dialogue capacities WHO WHO You You

THANK YOU Let’s start social dialogue capacity process: Let’s start social dialogue capacity process: Thinking, debating and shaping