Book launch: Trade unions in the European Union

Trade unions have repeatedly been challenged by neoliberal programmes implemented within EU member states and at the European level. The twenty-seven country chapters of the freshly published book "Trade unions in the European Union. Picking up the pieces of the neoliberal challenge" map the features of the neoliberal challenge in the member states and the measures implemented by unions in their attempts to adapt to changed circumstances since 2000. It is clear that union activity, either independently or in conjunction with allies, will be at the centre of revitalization campaigns if the pieces left from the neoliberal challenges are to be picked up and wielded into a coherent response.

More than twenty years after the milestone publication “Trade Unions in Europe” (Waddington and Hoffmann 2000), this book offers a timely update and a comprehensive comparative overview of the development, structure, and policies of national trade union movements in the EU. It presents an in-depth analysis of the challenges facing these organizations and their strategic and policy responses from 2000 to 2020.

At the launch of this publication in Brussels the editors will point out the main challenges for the trade unions emerging from the national chapters,  as well as relevant developments at the European level. The findings of this volume will then be discussed by an established academic in the field and ETUC Confederal Secretary Tea Jarc.  

The programme will follow soon here.

A light lunch will be offered from 13h30 in the room. Please register in advance via the link below.