Trade Unions Today and Tomorrow: Vol. II: Trade Unions in a Changing Workplace

Labour relations at the enterprise level are nowadays tending to assume increasing importance in Europe. We are witnessing major changes in the labour force both as regards the characteristics of workers (the supply side) and the characteristics of the work available (the demand side). Changes in product markets and production technologies place different demands on enterprises. New technologies are changing the quantity and quality of work and new relations are introduced into the workplace as a result of managerial initiatives. Moreover, workers are increasingly interested in the quality of their working life. These changes imply an adjustment of trade unions to meet these new situations. The studies included in this volume focus on some of the recent changes in the workplace and the trade union response to them.