Hand in hand, or influencing by stealth? Finnish trade union involvement in the European Semester Case study Finland

Abstract

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</p><p>The aim of this study is to analyse relationships between the Finnish trade unions and the European Union in the period 2014 to 2018. More specifically, the study will concentrate on the mechanisms through which Finnish trade unions are involved in the making of the European Semester. The paper seeks to answer to what extent, if any, trade unions have an influence on outputs and outcomes of the Semester process. The paper also describes themes and the linkages between the European Semester and national as well as sub-national social dialogue.</p>

The research methodology applied is a mixed-methods approach that builds on content analysis of various documents, macro-level and statistical analyses of developments in the national economy, unemployment and public finances. The role and characteristics of the national social dialogue are discussed on the basis of previous studies and interviews carried out with representatives of the main trade unions, the employers’ federation and the state bureaucracy. Sections on the mechanisms of trade union involvement in the making of the European Semester rely on official documents and process descriptions by the ministries responsible for the planning of the Semester reports. In addition, interviews are used to deepen the analysis. Discussion of the trade unions’ influence on outputs and outcomes relies heavily on the interviews carried out, and on content analyses of European Semester reports and written commentaries and responses from the trade unions. Seven interviews were conducted with trade union representatives (of which three were with TUSLOs representing different trade union federations), one with a delegate from the employers’ federation, five interviews with ministry representatives and one with a COM officer.