The role of the social partners in the transition towards a green economy

1. The role of the social partners in the transition towards a green economy 'Climate change: an opportunity for social cooperation' 30 march 2011 Christine Aumayr

2. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) • Established in 1975 in Dublin • EU Agency under auspices of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion • Tripartite Board (Business Europe, ETUC, National Governments, European Commission) ‘To provide information, advice and expertise – on living and working conditions and industrial relations in Europe – for key actors in the field of EU social policy on the basis of comparative information, research and analysis’

3. Outline Background • Social learning • Alternative approaches for solving distributional disputes • Social partners and the green agenda – 20 years ago and now Example Joint social partner initiative: • The German “network resource efficiency”

4. Emergence of the problem, no explicit formulation Problem taken seriously by actors dealt with individually or collectively Method generalized (e.g. higher level) Newly constituted conflict – regulating mechanisms firmly established, or disintegrate Three-phase model of social learning • Latent phase Passive 2. Regulation phase Reactive Proactive 3. Consolidation phase Following Eurofound 1992

5. Alternative approaches to resolving distributional disputes Eurofound 1992

6. Key points • European MS and social partners are in different stages • of social learning with regard to the green agenda. • Consensual approaches foster the green transition through the identification of win-win-win situations.

7. 1980sand early 1990s Industrial Relations and the Environment in the European Communities, Eurofound 1992 Environmental Protection in Europe. The Effects of Cooperation between the Social Partners. Eurofound, 1994

8. 1970s: productivity pact between the industrialist and the trade unions at the expense of the natural world Externalisation strategies Responsibility attributed to the state 1980s – early 90s: Role of social partners in framing legislation Broadening of scope Weakening of trade unions Enterprise level Findings of the 1992 research Latent phase Transition from latent to the regulatory phase

9. Problem related campaigns nuclear energy, toxic waste… pollution at plant level Demand enlarging the rights of Information and Participation on the basis of existing national regulations governing health & safety at work. focus on chemical industry Only few ER make the link between in-house and external environmental concerns. Start to be open to criticism from green groups. – Sector level Organisational innovations e.g. green marketing, technical side of environmental protection, clean technologies. Environmental policy: internal corporate strategy; Exclude trade unions and employees from company environmental policy Seek unilateral approaches – direct contact with authorities Social partner and the environment – 1980s and later Trade unions Employers (associations) Top down regulation (Health and Safety bodies) – no role for collective bargaining

10. 2009 Greening the European Economy: Responses and initiatives by Member states and social partners, Eurofound 2009

11. Key findings of the 2009 report • Green agenda grows in importance • Some green aspects in recovery packages in many countries • But: recession as brake, not trigger • East/West divide • Heterogeneous scope and definition of the green agenda • Nuclear power plants, automotive industry, farmers’ markets • Different forms and intensity of social partner involvement • Engagement of SP at higher levels (national/sectoral)

12. Level of engagement and mobilisation by national governments and social partners Absence of significant actions by government or SPs Modest yet uncoordinated actions lacking vision and direction Some promising initiatives and engagement by all parties – sustainable? Significant practices, engagement at several levels and multistakeholder involvement Mainstreamed policy approach, innovative practices, commitment by all parties, long-term vision, in-depth debate Tripartite bodies dealing with green issues Eurofound own elaboration, based on 2009 report:

13. Heterogeneous levels of social partner + government involvement “Timidly creeping” into social dialogue processes & structures” Some innovative examples –yet fewer than expected Latent phase Green Social dialogue - 2009 Transition from latent to regulatory phase… … is gaining momentum Few examples for moving towards a more proactive consolidation phase

14. Employers recognise added value but some fear compliance costs/add. taxation could hinder competitiveness demand for promotion of green industries/export subsidies/R&D higher level of engagement, where environmental technologies have an important share skill deficits as obstacles Trade Unions rather see target setting and written agreements over voluntary commitment focus on working conditions and employment levels some are reluctant, fear job losses membership issues – recruitment potential Social Partners and their stance

15. “Good practice” initiatives stemming from the social partners Examples Industrial relations and Sustainability: The role of the social partners in the transition towards a green economy. Eurofound 2011 Germany: Network resource efficiency United Kingdom: Green workplace project Belgium: Eco-cheque France: OPCA Construction/green skills training Romania: EuroNeff project/green skills training

16. Germany Network resource efficiency

17. How to include employees in resource efficiency processes? Policy background • “Green new deal” targets: ecological modernisation of industrial production • Climate change • Resource efficiency • 2001: Revision of works constitution act • Works councils to play a role in implementation of resource efficiency • Founded in 2007 • Actors: • Beginning: IG Metall & Environmental Ministery • Environmental Ministry, unions, industry, sectoral employer’s organisations, various associations and researchers.

18. “It’s better to save resources than people” Objectives • “open network”: to provide information on the relationship between • resource conservation, innovation and employment Activities • particular focus on SMEs, offering support for the implementation of measures, funding options for innovative technologies, initiate links with regions and sectors, • Conferences, expert meetings • Information campaigns for wider public • Internet platform (www.netzwerk-ressourceneffizienz.de/en) • Support of research on resource efficiency

19. The training project „resource efficiency at the company“ (KoReBB) • May 2008- April 2011 • Trade union initiated, DGB and DGB Bildungswerk • Involvement of workers and works councils in resource efficiency issues -> Participation as a driver for RE • Based on win-win-win situations • Approx. 1000 participants; implementation in 9 pilot companies • Training in several stages: • Cross-sectoral events with local trade unions; • Sector specific training, exchange of best practice • Direct cooperation with companies (9 pilot projects) • Certificate for employees: “Expert in resource efficiency”

20. Company level training projects 2 criteria • Company financed • Works council’s interest Implementation of resource efficient restructuring • Construction • Grey water usage in replanning • Thermal aspects, photovoltaic cells • Green IT “not so easy to find”

21. Good practice aspects of the project • Broad involvement of various actors • Identification of win-win-win situations • Development of involvement mechanisms • Employee suggestion programmes • Working groups • Regular discussions with MM on resource usage • Overcoming lack of technical/environmental competences through training provision Challenges • Open network – can not reach standard of legally secured co-determination • Interest and commitment of companies to finance training

22. Thank you very much. Christine Aumayr European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working conditions cau@eurofound.europa.eu