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When defending the rights and interests of workers transnationally, how can European trade unions respond effectively? The recent judgements from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have huge implications for the trade union movement in Europe.

The ECJ stated that even if the right to take collective action and the freedom of association fall outside the scope of the Community’s competence, member states must nevertheless comply with Community law. This has the potential to put a lot of pressure on national systems of industrial relations.

Eighteen months on, the ETUI developing a project on this issue. Entitled: Viking – Laval – Rüffert: Consequences and Policy perspectives the project analyses how the ECJ judgements influenced lawmakers, social partners and case-law in different EU member states and looks at potential methods of resolution that might already have emerged at national level.

Published as part of the overall project, you will find hereunder the phase I publication called “ ETUI publication “Viking – Laval – Rüffert : Consequences and policy perspectives”. It is based on the results of two workshops held by a group of academic lawyers and practitioners in which the ECJ decisions were discussed.

10 R111 Viking Laval Rüffert WEB.pdf