Reframing public service employment relations: The impact of economic crisis and the new EU economic governance

Abstract

This article introduces six national studies covering 11 countries of the EU-15, analysing the impact of government austerity measures on the working conditions of public employees and on public sector employment relations. It stresses how international financial markets and supranational actors have altered the dynamics of employment relations in a sector traditionally considered sheltered from external forces. Nevertheless, public sector employment relations remain distinctive compared to the private sector. There has been increased government unilateralism in the determination of pay and conditions, and public sector trade unions face obvious difficulties.