Contents

Cover page
Contents
To the reader
Abbreviations

1 Introduction

1.1 Goals, sources and methods of the study

1.2 The comparison countries and contact unions

1.3 Structure of the trade union movement in the comparison countries and introduction of the unions

2 Labour legislation and collective agreements

2.1 The basis of the labour market system
2.1.1 Legislation and collective agreements, bargaining level and participants
2.1.2 The generally binding character of collective agreements
2.1.3 The organising rate and collective agreement coverage
2.1.4 Collective agreements covered by the study
2.1.5 Industrial peace and conflicts

2.2 Job security
2.2.1 Grounds for individual and collective dismissal, compensatory systems and periods of notice
2.2.2 Redundancy costs

2.3 Working hours
2.3.1 Legislation and collective agreements in various countries
2.3.2 Annual working hours in 2002

2.4 Rewarding systems
2.4.1 Wages systems and allowances in various countries
2.4.2 Trends of payment forms in Europe

2.5 Participatory systems
2.5.1 Parties, content and administrative representation in co-operation within undertakings
2.6 Use of outside labour

3 Social security

3.1 Pension system

3.2 Unemployment benefits

4 Purchasing power of wage and salary earners

4.1 Nominal pay and its development
4.1.1 Pay rises in the latest bargaining round
4.1.2 Progress of inflation
4.1.3 Present level of nominal wages and salaries

4.2 Taxation and prices
4.2.1 Income tax percentages 2002
4.2.2 Price levels in various countries

4.3 Purchasing power

4.4 Labour costs

5 Challenges of the new Europe

5.1 Tumultuous change imminent in labour force and elected officials

5.2. Threats of unemployement and manpower shortage

5.3. Does industry attract young people?

5.4. Enlargement to the East – no migrant labour invasion in sight

5.5 Finland becomes a subsidiary company economy

5.6 European works councils must be supported and supervised

5.7 Towards European trade union coordination

5.8 From global framework agreements to global enterprises

5.9 Are we ready?