Organized labor in the European Community: Perspectives on British, French, and German unions

This thesis is a survey of the post-World War II relations of the British, French, and German labor movements with the European Community. Part I describes key structural, political, economic, and historical characteristics of each country's labor movement, particularly the activities of the major national labor federations. Part II traces the growth of the West European labor movement. It analyzes the European Trade Union Confederation as an interest group and how it operates in the European Community to shape public policy at the transnational level. Part III examines two policy issues which illustrate the current relations of European unions and the European Community in the context of 1992 reforms: the campaign for a social charter of workers' rights and the establishment of European-level collective bargaining and consultations. The conclusion speculates about the future impact of labor unions in shaping social and economic policy in the European Community.