ILR Presents at European Foundation Workshop, Geneva, Switzerland
January 8 2008
Stuart Basefsky and Art Wheaton report on industrial relations trends and issues
Representing the ILR School and the United States, Stuart Basefsky, information specialist, and Arthur Wheaton, senior extension associate, spoke at the recent Industrial Relations in the EU (European Union), Japan, USA, and Other Global Economies workshop held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The workshop is sponsored by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, an official agency of the European Union headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. This year, more than 40 representatives of European employer groups, labor unions, and governments participated in the workshop.
The European Foundation once again invited the ILR School to present an overview of developments and trends in industrial relations and/or employer/employee relations in the USA during the previous year. The ILR School has been invited to participate in this workshop annually since 2003. This endeavor is now recognized as a key element of an official partnership that the ILR School has with the European Foundation.
Basefsky and Wheaton presented authoritative facts and figures in response to questions about the economy, political developments, legislation, collective bargaining, union density, pay, benefits, global pressures and other matters related to work. These were based on written reports (1) (2) submitted earlier to the European Foundation by Sean Sweeney, Director of ILR's Global Labor Institute.
In addition, a yearly theme of interest to the European Union is examined. This year’s theme focused on “Working Time Practices: Trends and Challenges.” Working time relates to overtime and other working-hours issues.
"Judicious efforts are made to explain the American reality of work-related issues in terms of public policy. Clearly the American perspective is often at odds with what are known as European values. The European policy-makers usually ask, ‘How do we wish to live?’ Then they try to develop a process to achieve that end. The Americans, on the other hand, tweak policies from time to time but generally favor leaving developments to market economics. This philosophical difference in approach often leads to over regulation in Europe and too little regulation in the U.S, which has to be offset by litigation,” Basefsky says.
Basefsky adds that this workshop provides a global perspective that benefits ILR and the other participating countries. The information shared helps Europe further develop its own policies. In turn, ILR is provided a key center for global networking that benefits the School’s students, faculty, researchers and outreach programs.
