The role of the social partners in
the transition towards a green
economy
'Climate change: an opportunity for social cooperation'
30 march 2011
Christine Aumayr
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living
and Working Conditions (Eurofound)
•
Established in 1975 in Dublin
•
EU Agency
under auspices of
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
•
Tripartite Board
(Business Europe, ETUC,
National Governments, European Commission)
‘To provide information, advice and expertise – on living and working
conditions and industrial relations in Europe – for key actors in the field of
EU social policy on the basis of comparative information, research and
analysis’
Outline
Background
• Social learning
• Alternative approaches for solving distributional disputes
•
Social partners and the green agenda
– 20 years ago and now
Example
Joint social partner initiative:

The German “network resource efficiency”
Three-phase model of social learning
1. Latent phase
2. Regulation phase
3. Consolidation phase
Passive
Reactive
Proactive
Following Eurofound 1992
•
Emergence of the problem, no
explicit formulation
•
•
Problem taken seriously by actors
dealt with individually or collectively
•
•
Method generalized (e.g. higher level)
Newly constituted conflict –
regulating mechanisms firmly
established, or disintegrate
Alternative approaches to resolving
distributional disputes
Attributes
Conventional
approaches
Consensual
approaches
Outcomes
Win-lose; impaired
relationships
All-gain; improved relationships
Participation
Mandatory
Voluntary
Style of interaction Indirect
Direct (face-to-face)
Procedures
Same ground rules in all cases
New ground rules and procedures for
each case
Method of
reaching closure
Imposition of a final
determination by a judge or
official
Voluntary acceptance of a final
decision by the parties
Cost
Short term: Low to moderate;
long term: pot. very high
Short term: Moderate to high
long term: pot. Low if successful
Eurofound 1992
Key points
•
European MS and social partners are in different stages
 of social learning with regard to the green agenda.
•
Consensual approaches foster the green transition through
the identification of win-win-win situations.
1980s
and early 1990s
Industrial Relations and the Environment in the
European Communities, Eurofound 1992
Environmental Protection in Europe.
The Effects of Cooperation between the Social
Partners. Eurofound, 1994
Findings of the 1992 research
•
1970s:



•
productivity pact between the industrialist and the trade unions at the
expense of the natural world
Externalisation strategies
Latent phase
Responsibility attributed to the state
1980s – early 90s:




Role of social partners in framing legislation
Broadening of scope
Transition from latent to the
Weakening of trade unions
regulatory phase
Enterprise level
Social partner and the environment – 1980s and later
Trade unions
•
Problem related campaigns


•

•
nuclear energy, toxic waste…
pollution at plant level
Demand enlarging the rights of Information
and Participation

Employers (associations)
on the basis of existing national regulations
governing health & safety at work.
focus on chemical industry
•
Only few ER make the link between in-house
and external environmental concerns.
•
Start to be open to criticism from green
groups. – Sector level
Organisational innovations

e.g. green marketing, technical side of
environmental protection, clean
technologies.
•
Environmental policy: internal corporate
strategy;
•
Exclude trade unions and employees from
company environmental policy
•
Seek unilateral approaches – direct contact
with authorities
Top down regulation (Health and Safety bodies) – no role for collective bargaining
2009
Greening the European Economy: Responses and
initiatives by Member states and social partners,
Eurofound 2009
Key findings of the 2009 report
•
Green agenda grows in importance
•
Some green aspects in recovery packages in many countries
•
But: recession as brake, not trigger
•
East/West divide
•
Heterogeneous scope and definition of the green agenda

Nuclear power plants, automotive industry, farmers’ markets
•
Different forms and intensity of social partner involvement
•
Engagement of SP at higher levels (national/sectoral)
Level of engagement and mobilisation by national
governments and social partners
Absence of significant actions by government or SPs
Modest yet uncoordinated actions lacking vision and
direction
Some promising initiatives and engagement by all
parties – sustainable?
Significant practices, engagement at several levels
and multistakeholder involvement
Mainstreamed policy approach, innovative practices,
commitment by all parties, long-term vision, indepth debate
Tripartite bodies dealing with green issues
Eurofound own elaboration, based on 2009 report:
Green Social dialogue - 2009
Latent phase
• Heterogeneous levels of
social partner + government
involvement
• “Timidly creeping” into
social dialogue processes &
structures”
• Some innovative examples –
yet fewer than expected
Transition from latent to
regulatory phase…
… is
gaining momentum
Few examples for
moving towards a more
proactive consolidation phase
Social Partners and their stance
Employers
Trade Unions
•
•
•
•
•
recognise added value but some
fear compliance costs/add.
taxation could hinder
competitiveness
demand for promotion of green
industries/export subsidies/R&D
higher level of engagement,
where environmental
technologies have an important
share
skill deficits as obstacles
•
•
•
rather see target setting and
written agreements over
voluntary commitment
focus on working conditions and
employment levels
some are reluctant, fear job
losses
membership issues –
recruitment potential
“Good practice” initiatives
stemming from the
social partners
Examples
Industrial relations and Sustainability: The role of the
social partners in the transition towards a green
economy. Eurofound 2011
Germany:
United Kingdom:
Belgium:
France:
Romania:
Network resource efficiency
Green workplace project
Eco-cheque
OPCA Construction/green skills training
EuroNeff project/green skills training
Germany
Network resource efficiency
How to include employees in resource efficiency
processes?
Policy background
• “Green new deal” targets: ecological modernisation of industrial production
Climate change
 Resource efficiency

•
2001: Revision of works constitution act

•
•
Works councils to play a role in implementation of resource efficiency
Founded in 2007
Actors:


Beginning: IG Metall & Environmental Ministery
Environmental Ministry, unions, industry, sectoral employer’s organisations,
various associations and researchers.
“It’s better to save resources than people”
Objectives
•
“open network”: to provide information on the relationship between

resource conservation, innovation and employment
Activities
• particular focus on SMEs, offering support for the implementation of
measures, funding options for innovative technologies, initiate links with
regions and sectors,
• Conferences, expert meetings
• Information campaigns for wider public
• Internet platform (www.netzwerk-ressourceneffizienz.de/en)
• Support of research on resource efficiency
The training project „resource efficiency at the
company“ (KoReBB)
•
•
•
May 2008- April 2011
Trade union initiated, DGB and DGB Bildungswerk
•
Involvement of workers and works councils in resource efficiency issues -> Participation
as a driver for RE
Based on win-win-win situations
Approx. 1000 participants; implementation in 9 pilot companies
•
Training in several stages:
•




Cross-sectoral events with local trade unions;
Sector specific training, exchange of best practice
Direct cooperation with companies (9 pilot projects)
Certificate for employees: “Expert in resource efficiency”
Company level training projects
2 criteria
• Company financed
• Works council’s interest
“not so easy to find”
Implementation of resource efficient restructuring




Construction
Grey water usage in replanning
Thermal aspects, photovoltaic cells
Green IT
Good practice aspects of the project
•
•
•
Broad involvement of various actors
Identification of win-win-win situations
Development of involvement mechanisms
Employee suggestion programmes
 Working groups
 Regular discussions with MM on resource usage

•
Overcoming lack of technical/environmental competences through training
provision
Challenges
• Open network – can not reach standard of legally secured co-determination
• Interest and commitment of companies to finance training
Thank you very much.
Christine Aumayr
European Foundation for the Improvement of
Living and Working conditions
[email protected]