Outlines the new individual and collective rights established for all employees by the first Blair Labour Government. It then discusses the rationale for these developments, namely competitive advantage on the basis of labour market flexibility combined with minimum labour standards and security...

This paper outlines the purpose and the economic theory underpinning the Uni‐Europa Graphical co‐ordination of collective bargaining within a European context policy. It then analyses the development of the policy in terms of its scope, its institutions and its information networks. It...

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine the internal procedure for negotiations at multinational company level devised by the European Metalworkers Federation. Design/methodology/approach – The editorial outlines the EU Commission's social agenda between 2000 and 2010,...

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine the implementations of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in December 2007 on the Laval case in Sweden for trade unions. Design/methodology/approach – The editorial outlines the ECJ decision and then examines the response of the...

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine whether the social dimension of the single European market (SEM) has stalled or come to an end. Design/methodology/approach – This editorial outlines the existing minimum standards in SEM, the processes whereby they have/are established,...

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine moves towards cross border trade union mergers. Design/methodology/approach – This editorial outlines the reasons why trade unions see the need to act outside their nation state boundaries. Findings – In the globalised economy if trade...

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to review the significance of Roger Undy's book, Trade Union Merger Strategies: Purpose , Process and Performance , Oxford University Press, 2008. Design/methodology/approach – The editorial outlines and evaluates the arguments put forward by Dr...

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine the development of transnational collective bargaining at the company level in Europe Design/methodology/approach – This editorial outlines the levels at which bargaining takes place in the European Union, the EU Commission proposals for...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the response of industrial relations systems to the current financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach – This editorial outlines the effect of the financial crisis on industrial output, unemployment and redundancies. It then examines the...

Purpose – The purpose of this Editorial is to outline the main functions of the UK industrial relations state agencies – the Certification Officer, the Central Arbitration Committee and The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Design/methodology/approach – The Editorial outlines...