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European trade unions are among the most influential and powerful institutions within Western economies, in many cases cooperating with the government and employers' associations in socio-economic decision-making processes. Consequently they also play an important role in the formulation of policies relating to immigration and the migrant workers, who are arriving and becoming part of the workforce the unions are representing and protecting against employers and other authorities. However, trade unions have not always fulfilled their role as the most obvious organization to defend the interests of foreign workers to the extent they could be expected. The reasons for this are complex and due to conflicts of interests that arise from their intermediary position between employers, government authorities, and indigenous workers.
This volume offers a rich analysis of the situation in seven major European countries but also a comparison of the data found and an attempt to account for the differences established. It ends with some conclusions on the prospects of trade unions within the European Union, and on the lessons to be learned from the present analysis.
List of contents
List of Tables
Foreword
Jan Lucassen
Chapter 1. Introduction
Rinus Penninx and Judith Roosblad
Chapter 2. Trapped in the Consociational Cage: Trade Unions and Immigration in Switzerland
Barbara Schmitter Heisler
Chapter 3. The Federal Republic of Germany: Ambivalent Promotion of Immigrants’ Interests
Peter Kühne
Chapter 4. Austria: Protecting Indigenous Workers from Immigrants
August Gächter
Chapter 5. Dutch Trade Unions, Immigrants and Immigration: Myopic Politics of Equality
Judith Roosblad
Chapter 6. Trade Unions and Immigrants in France: From Assimilation to Antiracist Networking
Cathie Lloyd
Chapter 7. British Unions and Racism: Organisational Dilemmas in an Unsympathetic Climate
John Wrench
Chapter 8. Sweden: Insiders outside the Trade-Union Mainstream
Wuokko Knocke
Chapter 9. Conclusion
Rinus Penninx and Judith Roosblad
Appendices
Bibliography
Notes on Contributors
Index
About the author
Judith Roosblad also works at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies and is writing a dissertation on "Trade Unions, Immigration, and Immigrants in the Netherlands," at the Free University of Amsterdam.
Summary
This volume offers a rich analysis of the situation in seven major European countries but also a comparison of the data found and an attempt to account for the differences established. It ends with some conclusions on the prospects of trade unions within the European Union, and on the lessons to be learned from the present analysis.
Additional text
"I would strongly recommend reading this book both as an historical account of past trade union responses to migrant workers and as a base for further investigation into the current situation in Europe."����CLR News
"In spite of the great complexity of the subject matter this empirical study impresses the reader with its simple and clear structure ... Highly recommended."����Gewerkschaftliche Monatshefte
