Comparative Strike Research in Europe - tackling the data problem

Transcription

1 Joint Seminar WSI ETUI, 5-6 May, Düsseldorf Comparative Strike Research in Europe - tackling the data problem Heiner Dribbusch WSI, Düsseldorf Kurt Vandaele ETUI Brussels

2 The ILO defines it as What is a strike? a temporary work stoppage by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances It is a rather open form of collective action It is not exclusively bound to trade union organisation It is not restricted to industrial conflict 2

3 Different meanings Strikes can entail different expectations and responses Strikes can be offensive or defensive in nature They cannot be straightforwardly attributed to either workers strength or weakness 3

4 The data challenge The systems of data collection differ widely between countries So do the scope, quality and consistency of the available data To tackle this problem it is useful to know how the data are compiled and if possible to check official data against other sources 4

5 The overall picture 5

6 Days not worked due to strike and lockout by 1,000 employees; annual average Sources: ILO; national statistics; OECD; WSI; own calculation

7 A look behind the aggregated averages 7

8 Cyprus, DNW/1,000 employees

9 Denmark, DNW/1,000 employees

10 France private sector only DNW/1,000 employees,

11 Gaps and missings In Greece and Italy records were discontinued In Belgium no data for In Portugal data for 2008 and 2009 are missing In Spain the data do not cover general strikes and strikes in public education In France and Belgium and data on regional and municipal public services are missing 11

12 Different systems In most countries data are collected from employers Some consult in addition trade union sources Some use alternative sources: labour inspection, social security statistics, mediation offices, news paper reports A few use representative employer surveys 12

13 Differences in detail: UK, Ireland, Germany All three countries rely on employer reports In Germany employers are obliged to report strikes and lock-outs to the Federal Employment Agency but not sanctions, no enforcement, no questioning Ireland and the UK monitor strike activity and then address directly employers (partly unions) in case of no response additional calls or return to newspaper reports 13

14 Under-recording: the case of Germany 14

15 Behind the data: strike laws Strike laws differ widely No overall lawfulness of political/general strikes e.g. unlawful in Germany Some legislations require mediation or conciliation prior to a strike e.g. Poland, Slovakia, Sweden In some countries strikes are restricted by courts e.g. Latvia, Lithuania Collective bargaining is sometimes restricted 15

16 Conclusions Quantitative strike data alone hardly tell a story but require qualitative contextualisation Being aware of their limitations they are nevertheless the raw material which enables us to identify trends and to make comparisons between industries and between countries Their absence constitutes a major obstacle to comprehensive strike research and favours speculation and mystification 16

17 However The overall data situation in Europe is not that grim In the majority of countries there are coherent time series available 17

18 Thank you for listening! 18