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UK PRESIDENCY
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Social Dialogue - different voices, common vision
17th November 2005
Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch, London
Click here to download a
copy of the conference report
This
conference was designed in the context of enlargement and some difficulties
reported by new member states on ensuring an effective contribution to European
Social Dialogue. The Conference aimed to address some of the difficulties
previously highlighted, to provide for an exchange of information and good
practice and to try to identify some practical suggestions for some possible
solutions.
In
particular the Conference focused on the particular the challenges of involving
small firm managers and workers in social dialogue at both national and European
levels.
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conferences such as that held in Modena under the Italian Presidency and a
Commission conference in Slovenia had identified problems with conducting
social dialogue in industries that are mainly composed of small and medium
enterprises (SMEs), and in sectors where there is a low level of trade union
involvement. This problem was brought to light by several of the newer
Member States, where problems with social dialogue are often further
compounded either by fragmentation of national social partner bodies, or a
lack of well-organised business/trade union representative organisations |
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Engaging
small firms in social dialogue or in policy formulation more generally is not
always an easy task for either old or new Member States. It is hard to focus the
attention of small business owners on issues that fall outside their direct
areas of operation; harder still to convince them that engaging in an activity
such as social dialogue will be beneficial to them in the long run. When it
comes to workers, small firms traditionally have a low rate of trade union
membership and so it is difficult to involve SME employees in formal social
dialogue at either national or European levels.
To inform
discussion, a discussion paper was prepared by Kingston University (London) to
look at how social dialogue operates in Europe and how different Member States
have developed social dialogue to involve small firms. Drawing on case studies
the paper identified ways in which social dialogue processes might be developed
and strengthened to engage small firms more effectively in the European Social
dialogue process. You can download a copy of the research report by clicking the
link below.
The Conference also provided
an opportunity to look at different ways of implementing European Social Partner
Agreements. Two agreements, on Telework and Stress have now been concluded and
are being implemented across the member states. Following sharing of
experiences on different ways on implementing agreements some ideas were
exchanged as to how both European social partners and national level
organisations could facilitate the implementation of these agreements in Member
States.
Click
here
to download a copy of the Kingston University research report on social dialogue
and small firms.
Click
here to download a copy of Minister
Gerry Sutcliffe’s opening speech
Click
here to download a copy of Director
General Odile Quintin’s opening remarks
Click
here
to download a copy of conference
programme.
Click
here to download biographies for the
conference speakers and facilitators
Click here to view
pictures from the event.
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