What's the point of European Sectoral Social Dialogue? Effectiveness and polycontexturality in the hospital and metal sectors. Issue 5 (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larsson, Bengt; Galetto, Manuela; Weber, Sabrina; Bechter, Barbara; Prosser, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Industrial relations journal. Volume 51:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 410
• Page End: 426
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Industrial relations -- Periodicals; 331.1942
• DOI: 10.1111/irj.12305
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0019-8692

Abstract

Abstract: Drawing on pragmatism and systems theory, this article analyses how participants in the European Sectoral Social Dialogue in the metal and hospital committees understand its effectiveness. We find that the participants have a broad understanding of effectiveness compared with the European Commission and existing research. Participants do not dismiss the importance of direct effects on working conditions in member states but downplay it in comparison with indirect effects from, and effectiveness in, European Sectoral Social Dialogue. That is, horizontal learning, knowledge sharing and pragmatic bottom‐up work to reach consensus are emphasised as more prominent than top‐down regulatory effectiveness.