European urban public transport: towards a single European employment model?. (1st April 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Is Part Of: Work, organisation, labour & globalisation. Volume 4:Number 1(2010)
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 174
• Publication Date: 2010-04-01
• Subjects: Work -- Periodicals; Labor -- Periodicals; Division of labor -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; Division of labor; Industrial relations; Labor; Work; Periodicals; 331
• DOI: 10.13169/workorgalaboglob.4.1.0160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-6428

Abstract

Abstract : Publicly owned public transport contributed to the distinctive character of 20th century European cities. Today, however, the sector is being opened up to various forms of competition. Using a comparative study of urban public transport in six European countries, this paper traces the emergence of a new European mode of regulation for the sector. This new framework has not, however, always led to a deterioration in wages or working conditions, since national employment systems remain important. Change has often been justified as leading to improved service quality: traditional public sector employment, above all job security, was seen as contributing to bad service for passengers. Our study, undertaken as part of the EU-funded Dynamo project, however finds no such simple link — either negative or positive — between the quality of service and the nature of employment.