Towards computer-assisted collective bargaining

Prof. Dr. Dr. Andranik Tangian Hans Böckler Foundation, Düsseldorf University of Karlsruheandranik-tangian@boeckler.de

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EU-Projekt

EN: National Implementation of flexicurity pathways in consensus with social partners and backed up by monitoring instruments and empirical feedback VS/2008/0629

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Dutch computer archive for collective agreements

University of Amsterdam (DATA EASY)

Years: 1995-2007

5383 collective agreements, in 3483 flexibility is explicitly specified

1216 variables incl. 649 numerical, 356 selected 2 Classifiers (Year, Branch) 21 on flexibility and 333 on social security

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Dimensions of flexibility

External numerical flexibility (3 variables)

Internal numerical flexibility (7)

Funktional flexibility (2)

Wage flexibility (4)

Externalisation flexibility (5)

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Dimensionen der Sicherheit

Labour rights (13 variables)

In-work income (75)

Out-of-work income: Pensions, disabling, seak leave… (69)

Job security (12)

Employment security (3)

Social security (25)

Co-determination (9)

Work-life balance (98)

Data structure (CLA archiv, NL)

Which trends are in collective labour agreements (NL)?

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Dynamics of flexibility-to-security ratio

Share of flexicurity-relevant CLAs in all CLAs

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Flexibility and security in CAs by industry

Flexicurity balance

Evaluation of 3483 CLAs (NL) with respect to the status quo

Checklist No. 1 (descriptive)

Checklist No. 2 (analytical)

Nov 2009A.Tangian. Towards computer-assisted collective bargaining1414

Conclusions

Increasing flexibility and decreasing security

„Good“ Dutch practice (according to the Commission) is not so good as believed

Dutch trade unions pay too much attention to “small” security issues (333!) and overlook a few principal issues (only 21 flexibility variables)

The computer tool developed can help to control the fairness of collective bargaining

Weak left parties requires politicization of unions

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Reform proposalFlexinsurance

Employer's contribution to social security proportional to the flexibility of the contract/risk of becoming unemployed

Prototypes: “dismissal taxes”

Progressive: Experience rating in US

Flat: Austrian Abfertigungsrecht

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Reform proposal Workplace tax

The worse working conditions (‘social pollution’), the higher the tax paid by the employer

Prototypes:

Green tax which stimulates enterprises to consider the natural environment

French bonus 10% of total earnings upon the termination of temporary contract

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Reform proposal Basic income

A flat income paid by the state to all citizens regardless of their earnings and property status

Prototypes

Kindergeld in Germany paid to all parents

Solidarity pensions in Chili and Switzerland

Minimal wage

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Reform proposal Constraining financial markets

Foreign investments mean export of jobs

Employers are given a legal instrument for pressure on European governments: ‘If you do not accept our requirements, we move jobs abroad’

Unconstrained financial speculations end up with an economic recession

… and we are in crisis now