Opening the black box: actors and interactions shaping European sectoral social dialogue

Bechter, B.; Weber, S.; Galetto, M.; Larsson, B.; Prosser, T.

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of organizational resources and individual capabilities for interactions and relationships among social partners in European sectoral social dialogue committees (SSDCs). We use an actor-centred approach to investigate work programme setting in the hospital and metalworking SSDCs. Our research reveals differences in how European social partner organizations coordinate and integrate members in SSDCs. In hospital, European Union (EU)-social partners build bridges that span otherwise separate actors or groups. The findings suggest that the absence of bridging efforts can lead to the dominance of a few actors. In metalworking, small cohesive groups are more effective in forming close networks and determining work programmes. While work programmes in hospital represent issues which are on national agendas, in metalworking, they focus mainly on EU policy areas.

Citation

Bechter, B., Weber, S., Galetto, M., Larsson, B., & Prosser, T. (2021). Opening the black box: actors and interactions shaping European sectoral social dialogue. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 27(3), 269-288. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596801211000012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 16, 2021
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 17, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 19, 2021
• Journal: European Journal of Industrial Relations
• Print ISSN: 0959-6801
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7129
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 269-288
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09596801211000012
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1250865