Summary
Roland Erne's view of transnational trade union networks challenges the assertion that no realistic prospect exists for remedying the European Union's democratic deficit—that is, its domination by corporate interests and lack of a cohesive European people. His book describes the emergence of a European trade union movement that crosses national boundaries. Erne assesses national and EU-level trade union politics in two core areas: wage bargaining in the European Monetary Union and job protection during transnational corporate mergers and restructuring. The wage coordination policies of the European metal and construction workers' unions and the unions' responses in the ABB-Alstom Power and Alcan-Pechiney-Algroup merger cases, Erne finds, show that the activities of labor are not confined to the national level: labor's policies have undergone Europeanization. This cross-national borrowing of tactics is itself proof of the increasing integration of European states and societies.
European Unions is based on an exceptionally wide range of research methods, including statistical analysis, participant observation, and interviews with EU-level, national, and local trade unionists and works councilors. It also draws on a wide range of European, German, French, Italian, and Swiss union documents and a multilingual body of academic literature across several disciplines, including political science, sociology, and law. Erne's multilevel inquiry goes beyond country-by-country comparisons of national cases and his book will prove of great relevance to readers interested in the future of labor, social justice, and democracy in an increasingly integrated world.
Reviews:
"Erne provides strong empirical evidence that unions not only are affected by European integration but also affect future EU developments through their actions. Erne provides readers with a timely and useful analysis of the ways that economic integration is changing the power resources of organized labor in Europe, the types of strategies unions have developed in response, and the role that labor may play in shaping the political development of the EU down the road."—Kristine E. Mitchell, Industrial and Labor Relations Review
"European Unions is a very useful, well-constructed, and welcome contribution to a growing literature on the coordination of unions at the European level and is particularly valuable for its case studies. Erne handles the complexities of his subject well, applies his theoretical framework in a convincing way, and provides enough well-marshaled detail to persuade the reader of at least parts of his case."—Richard Croucher, Industrial Relations
"European Unions critically and originally reflects the developments of transnational collective action and union coordination and provides incentives for labor to rethink its position in society as a new social democratic force. As such the book should be of interest not only to academics and researchers but also to policymakers and practitioners."—Valeria Pulignano, Transfer
"Erne's pertinent study of European trade unionism is a sophisticated, nuanced examination of organized labor's attempt to create a transnational democracy in the EU."—Choice
"European Unions is rigorous and original. In this excellent book, Roland Erne organizes his analysis around an illuminating range of strategies and draws on a wide array of sources. Erne is exceptionally well informed about labor and industrial relations, and his book is unusually broad in scope, covering the politics of the European Union, the political economy of wage bargaining, and the role of unions in EU competition and merger policy."—John Kelly, University of London
"In European Unions, Roland Erne offers an original and compelling view of how trade unions can contribute to remedying the European Union's 'democratic deficit.' He argues that unions can do so if they mobilize collective action in EU decision-making processes as opposed to alternative 'technocratic' or 're-nationalizing' strategies. Theoretically and through case studies, he analyzes the conditions under which unions are likely to adopt strategies that have democratizing effects on EU governance."—Andrew Martin, The Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
