Trade Union Participation and Influence at Norwegian Workplaces During the Pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.136268

Keywords:

Labor Market Institutions & Social Partners

Abstract

A central feature of the Nordic model of labor relations, namely, the collaboration between social parties at the workplace, has proven to be particularly effective during crises. This is the backdrop for our study of the experiences from Trade Union Representatives (TU-reps) during the corona pandemic. With a survey aimed at TU-reps from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which represents just under half of the total unionized employees, we asked how the pandemic affected their participation and influence at the workplaces. Referring to the pandemic as a game changer, we discuss signs of change in TU-reps’ possibilities for participation and influence under such difficult circumstances. 

According to theTU-reps, interaction between the social parties intensified during the pandemic. Formal participation between the parties stands out to be crucial for enabling dialog and can therefore be labeled as the backbone of the Nordic model in times of crisis.

Author Biographies

Sissel C. Trygstad, Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research

Research director

Rolf K. Andersen, Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research

Researcher

Anne Mette Ødegård, Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research

Senior researcher. E-mail: amo@fafo.no

References

Alsos, K. & Trygstad, S.C. (2019). «Workplace Democracy: Representation and Participation Gaps in the Norwegian Labour Market Model. » I F. Engelstad, C, Holst og G.C. Aakvaag (red.), Democratic State, Democratic Society. Warsaw/Berlin: De Gruyter Open

Alsos, K. & Trygstad, S.C. (2022). «Do Participation Structures Affect Workers’ Voice? » Economic and Industrial Democracy, https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X221076178.

Andersen, S. K., Dølvik, J. E., & Ibsen, C. L. (2014). De nordiske aftalemodeller i åbne markeder – udfordringer og perspektiver. (The Nordic agreement models in open markets - challenges and perspectives), Oslo: Fafo.

Barth, E. & Nergaard, K. (2015). Kollektive partsforhold: Status quo eller endring? (Collective relations: Status quo or change). In: H. Dale-Olsen, (Ed.), Norsk arbeidsliv i turbulente tider (83-104), Oslo: Gyldendal.

Bungum, B., Forseth, U., & Kvande, E. (2015) Den norske modellen. Internasjonalisering som utfordring og vitalisering. (The Norwegian model. Internationalization as a challenge and revitalization), Bergen: Fagbokforlaget.

Busck, O., Knudsen, H. & Lind, J. (2010). The transformation of employee participation: Consequences for the work environment, Economic and Industrial Democracy 31(3): 285-305. SAGE.

DOI: 10.1177/0143831X09351212

Cappocia, G., & Kelemen, R.D. (2007) The study of critical junctures: Theory, narrative and counterfactuals in historical institutionalism, World Politics 59(03):341-369. DOI:10.1017/S0043887100020852

Collier, R.B., & Collier, D. (1991). Shaping the political arena, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Dachler, H.P., & Wilpert, B. (1978). Conceptual Dimensions and Boundaries of Participation in Organizations: A Critical Evaluation, In Administrative science quarterly, Cornell University, March, Vol.23, pp.1-39.

Dølvik, J.E., Andersen, J.G., & Vartiainen, J. (2014a). The Nordic social models in turbulent times. In: Martin A. and Dølvik J.E. (eds.) European social models from crisis to crisis: employment and inequality in the era of monetary integration, Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 246-286.

https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198717966.003.0008

Dølvik, J. E., Fløtten, T., Hippe, J. M., & Jordfald, B. (2014b). Den nordiske modellen mot 2030. Et nytt kapittel? (The Nordic model towards 2030. A new chapter?) Oslo: Fafo.

Dølvik, J. E., Marginson, P., Alsos, K., Arnholtz, J., Meardi, G., Müller, T., & Trygstad, S. (2018). Collective wage regulation in northern Europe under strain: Multiple drivers of change and differing responses, European Journal of Industrial Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X18790815

Guyet, R., Tarren, D., & Triomphe, C.E. (2012) Social dialogue in times of global economic crisis, Dublin: Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

Hagen, I.M., Seip, Å.A., & Svalund, J. (2020). Hovedavtalen i staten – et godt virkemiddel for samarbeid, medbestemmelse og utvikling? (The Basic agreement in central governmental sector – suitable for cooperation, participation, and innovation?) Oslo: Fafo-report 2020:28.

Haipeter, T. (2019) Worker’s participation: Concepts and evidence. In: Berger, S., Pries, L., and Wannöffel, M. (eds) The Palgrave handbook of Workers’ Participation at Plant Level, pp.147-164

Hernes, G. (2006). Den norske mikromodellen. Virksomhetsstyring, partssamarbeid og sosial kapital (The Norwegian micromodel. Business management, cooperation and social capital), Oslo: Fafo-note 2006:25.

Hvid, H. S. & Falkum, E. (Eds.) (2019). Work and Wellbeing in the Nordic Countries. Critical Perspectives on the World’s Best Working Lives. Routledge.

Ikenberry, G.J. (1998). Constitutional politics in international relations. European Journal of International Relations 4 (2):147-177. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354066198004002001

Ilsøe, A., Pekarek, A., & Fells, R. (2018). Partnership under pressure: A process perspective on decentralized bargaining in Danish and Australian manufacturing, European Journal of Industrial Relations 24 (1):55-71 17. https://doi:10.1177/0959680117708375

Jokivuori, P. (2013) Finland: Impact of the crisis on industrial relations. Dublin: Eurofound. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/report/2013/finland-impact-of-the-crisis-on-industrial-relations

Kjellberg, A. (2021) The shifting role of unions in the social dialogue, European Journal of Workplace Innovation 6(1-2):220-244. https://portal.research.lu.se/sv/publications/the-shifting-role-of-unions-in-the-social-dialogue

Kjellberg, A. & Nergaard, K. (2022). Union Density in Norway and Sweden: Stability versus Decline. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies 12(S8) https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.131697

Kuldova, T.Ø., Drange, I., Enehaug, H., Falkum, E., Underthun, A., Wathne, C.T. (2020). (Professional judgment under pressure: four case studies and a summary) ISBN: 978-82-7609-418-3. 91 s.

Larsen, T. P., & Navrbjerg, S. E. (2015). The economic crisis: Testing employee

relations. Economic and Industrial Democracy 36(2): 331–353. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X13506050

Larsen, T. P., Navrbjerg, S. E., & Johansen, M. M. (2010). Tillitdsrepræsentanten og arbejdspladsen. (Trade union representativs at workplace level). Report I. København: Faos.

Mahoney, J., & Thelen, K. (2010). Explaining Institutional Change: Ambiguity, Agency, and Power, Cambridge University Press.

NOU 2021:16. Myndighetenes håndtering av koronapandemien. Rapport fra

Koronakommisjonen. (Norwegian Official Report: The authorities' handling of the corona pandemic – report from the Corona Commission).

NOU 2021:2. Kompetanse, aktivitet og inntektssikring — Tiltak for økt sysselsetting. (Norwegian Official Report: Competence, activity and income security — Measures for increased employment).

Nergaard, K. (2022). Organisasjonsgrader, tariffavtaledekning og arbeidskonflikter 2020 og 2021. (Degrees of organization, collective agreement coverage and labor disputes 2020 and 2021), Oslo: Fafo

Nergaard, K. (2020). Organisasjonsgrader, tariffavtaledekning og arbeidskonflikter 2018/2019. (Degrees of organization, collective agreement coverage and labor disputes 2018/2019), Oslo: Fafo.

OECD (2019). Negotiating Our Way Up: Collective Bargaining in a Changing World of Work, OECD Publishing.

Pierson, P. (2004). Politics in Time. History, Institutions, and Social Analysis, Princeton University Press.

Pries, L. (2019). Workers’ participation at Plant Level in a Comparative Perspective. In Berger, S., Pries, L. & Wannöffel, M. (eds.). The Palgrave Handbook of Workers’ Participation at Plant Level.

Rasmussen, E. & Høgedahl, L. (2021) Collectivism and employment relations in Denmark: underpinning economic and social success, Labour and Industry 31:3: 320-334. DOI: 10.1080/10301763.2020.1856619

Selznick, P. (1957). Leadership in Administration. A Sociological Interpretation, Berkeley: University of California Press.

Spiegelaere, S.D., Hoffman, A., Jagodziński, R., Hernandez, S.L., Rasnaca, Z., Vitols, S. (2019). Democracy at work. Benchmarking Working Europe 2019: 67-89.

Stokke, T.Aa., Nergaard, K., & Evju, S. (2013). Det kollektive arbeidslivet. Organisasjoner, tariffavtaler og lønnsoppgjør (The collective working life. Organizations, collective agreements and wage settlements), Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.

Streeck, W., & Thelen, K. (2005). Beyond Continuity: Institutional Change in Advanced Political Economies, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Traxler, F., Blaschke, S., & Kittel, B. (2001) National Labour Relations in Internationalized Markets, Oxford: OUP.

https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198295549.001.0001

Trygstad, S. C., Alsos K, Andersen R.K., Bråten, M., & Steen Jensen, R. (2021) Arbeidstakeres medbestemmelse og medvirkning, Oslo: Fafo. (Workers’ Co-determination and Participation).

Downloads

Published

2023-02-28

How to Cite

Trygstad, S. C., Andersen, R. K., & Ødegård, A. M. (2023). Trade Union Participation and Influence at Norwegian Workplaces During the Pandemic. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 13(S10). https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.136268