Trade Union Cooperation in Europe

Hi Bengt Furåker! You have co-authored a new book on union organizing. What is it about?
- It is a study of union cooperation in Europe - how it has occurred, the way it works, the expectations and difficulties. Two concrete questions are raised in the book which we see as important to the unionizing movemen: legislation about minimum wage setting and the newly adopted changes of the EU's Posted Workers Directive.

Who is the primary audience of this book?
- The book is aimed at people working within unions, researchers, students and others with an interest in the European labor market and the role played by the unionizing movement in Europe.

Are there any interesting parts from the book that you would like to mention?
- The role of the unionization movement in Europe has been important, but there have been differences of opinion and resistance within the movement which must be dealt with. An obvious example of this is the issue of regulated minimum wage.

How did you get the idea for this book?
- The book builds upon two research projects, one led by me and the other by Bengt Larsson, which we have jointly worked on. The projects have also involved other people such as Mattias Bengtsson, Kristina Lovén Seldén, Anton Törnberg and Patrik Vulkan. When we were asked to write a book on the subject by the publishing house Palgrave Macmillan, it was easy to say yes.

How has it been to collaborate?
- We began with research collaboration, which led to a book in 2008. We don't have any other projects planned at this point, and I have actually been retired for a while now.

Quick Facts:
Title: Trade Union Cooperation in Europe (2020)
Digital publishing: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030387693
Researchers: Bengt Furåker and Bengt Larsson, Professors at the Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg.

Swedish version: PAULIN NANDE