School of Law

Transnational Competition and Industrial Relations - Prospects for the EU and Beyond After Laval and Viking (Malmberg/Däubler)

01 June 2011 | 3.00pm to 4.30pm | Workshop

The Liberty Building, University of Leeds

The seminal ECJ cases in Laval and Viking have sparked much theoretical debate, little of which was focused on potential trade union strategies in times of global wage competition. This seminar focuses on the question how industrial relations and industrial democracy are to be maintained in spite of international competition under the constraints issued by the ECJ. First legislative reactions in Europe are being established. Professor Malmberg has researched European labour law extensively and has an intimate insight in consequences of the LAVAL decision in Sweden, and can reflect on the question whether the new legal barriers are necessarily fatal to transnational trade union strategies in Europe. Professor Däubler has contributed much legal advice to the establishment of the first ever international collective agreement combating wage dumping in transport at sea.

This agreement was attacked before the European Court of Justice in Viking. Professor Däubler will also highlight the question whether international trade union activity outside Europe is now more viable than within.