Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to introduce this special issue on “International trade union networks, European works' councils and international labour regimes”. Design/methodology/approach – The editorial provides an overview and introduces the papers which make up the...

Purpose – Much is being claimed in terms of new forms of trade union networking and co‐ordination at the international level during the past two decades. However, there is a need to ground these views in terms of the reality and contexts of trade union activity. This article seeks to argue...