MEPs adopted by 483 votes to 38 with 100 abstentions, on Thursday 1 June, a resolution calling on the Commission and the Member States to commit to increasing collective bargaining coverage to at least 80% by 2030.
This would mean that 80% of workers are covered by trade unions or other bodies to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment, explains the Parliament in a press release.
The proportion of workers covered by collective agreements has fallen considerably over the last 30 years, from around 66% in 2000 to around 56% in 2018, the resolution also points out.
MEPs consider collective bargaining to be an essential tool for the proper functioning of the social market economy. They are calling for the social partners to be duly involved and consulted, and for the EU to tackle anti-union practices.
Societies with strong collective bargaining systems tend to have more competitive and resilient economies, and are wealthier and more egalitarian, add MEPs, “which shows the need to support social dialogue at national and EU level”.
The Dutch MEP, Agnes Jongerius (S&D), accused the EPP group of trying to weaken the text by favouring “employer-controlled trade unions” and imposing “the ‘right to work’ to weaken the right of association or collective action”.
Link to the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/770 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)