Labour mobility in construction: European implications of the laval un partneri dispute with Swedish labour

European Journal of Industrial Relations

Volumn 12, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 49-68

  Woolfson, Charles ^a,b   Sommers, Jeff ^a,c,d  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA   (Latvia)

^b UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW   (United Kingdom)

^c Raritan Valley College   (United States)

^d Stockholm School of Economics in Riga   (Latvia)

Author keywords

Construction industry; EU enlargement; European social model; Industrial disputes; Labour standards; Posted workers Directive

Indexed keywords

EID: 33745648738     PISSN: 09596801     EISSN: 14617129     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0959680106061371     Document Type: Article

References (69)

1. Antila, J. and Ylstalo, P. (2003) Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002. Helsinki: Ministry of Labour.
2. Antila, J. and Ylstalo, P. (2004) 'Reunionisation in the Baltic Countries'. IIRA 7th European Congress, Lisbon, September.
3. Baltic Times, The (2005) 'More Unions Join the Blockade'. 13 January: 4 4.
4. Byggnads (2004a) The Blockade in Vaxholm. Stockholm: Byggnads.
5. Byggnads (2004b) 'Byggnads' Industrial Conflict with Laval un Partneri Ltd Affects the Whole of Europe', Official briefing document prepared by the Nordic Federation of Building and Wood Working Unions. Stockholm: Byggnads.
6. Centre for a Social Europe (2004) 'Accused of Wage Dumping, Latvian Construction Group Talked on Swedish Union', URL: (20 December) http://www.social-europe.org.uk/presscuts/041220afp.htm.
7. Clarke, L., Cremers, J. and Janssen, J. (eds) (2003) EU Enlargement: Construction Labour Relations as a Pilot. Brussels: CLR Studies.
8. Cremers, J. and Donders, P. (eds) (2005) Free Movement of Workers in the EU. Brussels: CLR Studies.
9. Davies, P. (2002) 'The Posted Workers Directive and the EC Treaty', Industrial Law Journal 31 (3). 298 - 306.
10. Dennis, I. and Guio, A. (2003) Monetary Poverty in the EU Acceding and Candidate Countries, Statistics in Focus, Population and Social Conditions, Theme 3, 21/2003. Eurostat.
11. Diena (2004) 23 December.
12. Diena (2005a) 31 January.
13. Diena (2005b) 1 February.
14. Dienas Bizness (2004) 'Threats to Swedish Constructors'. 23 November: 6 6.
15. Dienas Bizness (2005a) 'Agreement to be Broken with Laval'. 11 February: 3 3.
16. Dienas Bizness (2005b) 'Reminder about Laval'. 4 October: 3 3.
17. Druker, J. and Dupré, I. (1998) 'The Posting of Workers Directive and Employment Regulation in the European Construction Industry', European Journal of Industrial Relations 4 (3). 309 - 330.
18. EC (European Commission) (2002) Free Movement for Persons: A Practical Guide for an Enlarged European Union. Brussels: EC Commission.
19. EC (2003) 'The Implementation of Directive 96/71/EC in the Member States', Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, 25.7.2003, COM(2003) 458 final. Brussels: EC Commission.
20. EIROnline (2004a) 'Latvia: 2003 Annual Review for Latvia', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/01/feature/lv0401102f.html.
21. EIROnline (2004b) 'Latvia: The Development and Current Situation of Trade Unions', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/03/feature/lv0403104f.html.
22. EIROnline (2004c) 'Latvia: Numbers of Workplace Accidents Increasing', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/04/inbrief/lv0404102n.html.
23. EIROnline (2004d) 'Latvia: State Labour Inspectorate Examined', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/04/feature/lv0404101f.html.
24. EIROnline (2004e) 'Latvia: Thematic Feature: Industrial Relations and Undeclared Work', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/06/feature/lv0406103t. html.
25. EIROnline (2004f) 'Latvia: Industrial Relations Aspects of Public Employment Policy Analysed', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/07/feature/ lv0407102f.html.
26. EIROnline (2004g) 'Latvia: Pay Demands by Medical Staff Spread', URL: http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2004/12/inbrief/lv0412103n.html.
27. Eiropas Eksperti (2005) 'Welcome to the Place Where Money of Europe Becomes Yours', URL (consulted November 2005) http://www.eiropaseksperti.lv/ modules/tinycontent/index.php.
28. Elvander, N. (2002) 'The New Swedish Regime for Collective Bargaining and Conflict Resolution: A Comparative Perspective', European Journal of Industrial Relations 8 (2). 197 - 216.
29. EMIRE (n.d. a) 'Posted Workers Directive'. Dublin: European Foundation.
30. EMIRE (n.d. b) Lex Britannia. Dublin: European Foundation.
31. EUbusiness (2004) 'Swedish Court Rules Against Latvian Company Accused of Wage Dumping', URL (22 December) http://www.EUbusiness.com/afp/041222164857. a03jwep.
32. EUbusiness (2005) 'European Court to Rule on Latvian Wage Dumping Dispute with Sweden', URL: (29 April) http://www.EUbusiness.com/afp/050429190442. 25lvyvfk/view.
33. EUobserver (2004) 30 November.
34. EUobserver (2005a) 6 October.
35. EUobserver (2005b) 13 October.
36. EUobserver (2005c) 17 October.
37. European Commission Memo (2004) 'The Free Movement of Workers Following Enlargement', info BASEEUROPE, URL: (9 February) http://www.ibeurope.com/ Records/7500/7500.htm.
38. European Employment Observatory (2004) 'Monthly Newsletter', No. 21, December, URL: http://www.eu-employment-observatory.net/resources/ monthlyupdates0412/latvia_update_dec_04.doc.
39. European Foundation (2002) First Survey of Working Conditions in the Accession and Candidate Countries. Dublin: European Foundation.
40. Eurostat (2004) New Cronos Database, Structural Indicators, Employment, Fatal Accidents at Work. Luxembourg: Eurostat.
41. Gowan, P. (1999) The Global Gamble. London: Verso.
42. Hamilton, E. (2005) 'The Road from Vaxholm, via Riga, to Luxembourg: Why Does the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise Support Laval un Partneri in its Struggle Against Swedish Trade Unions?', MSc Dissertation. London School of Economics.
43. IFBWW (2004) 'IFBWW Solidarity Campaign and Trade Union Rights Flash: Support IFBWW Swedish Affiliate Byggnads in its Conflict Against Latvian Construction Company L & P Baltic Bygg AB!' Geneva: IFBWW.
44. IMF (2004) 'Latvia: 2004 Article IV Consultation Concluding Statement of the IMF Mission', 29 April. URL: http://www.imf.org/external/np/ms/2004/042904. htm.
45. KalviØtis, A. (2004) Letter to HE Mr José Manuel Barroso, The President of the European Commission, cc Mr Charlie McCreevy, The European Commissioner responsible for Internal Market and Services, Riga, 15 December (in authors' possession).
46. Kohl, H. and Platzer, H. (2004) Industrial Relations in Central and Eastern Europe: Transformation and Integration: A comparison of the eight new EU member states. Brussels: ETUI.
47. Kvist, J. (2004) 'Does EU Enlargement Start a Race to the Bottom? Strategic Interaction Among EU Member States in Social Policy', Journal of European Social Policy 14 (3). 301 - 318.
48. Latvian Investment and Development Agency (2004) Business Incentives in Latvia. URL: http://www.liaa.gov.lv/eng/Incentives/.
49. LETA (2004) '"Laval&partneri" Vaksholma Øbu ØvnieciØbu tome Ør neatsa Øks', URL: (5 January) http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/article.
50. LO (2005) 'Rekommendation av Svenskt N‰ringsliv och Landsorganisationen i Sverige (LO) om anpassning av förbundsavtal för företag som blir tillf‰lliga medlemmar I arbetsgivareförbund inom Svenskt N‰ringsliv', 30 August. URL: http://www.lo.se/home/lo/home. nsf/unidView/B96225EF07D58710C125706D00305195/$file/ utlforetagslutligversion30aug05.pdf.
51. Local, The (2005a) 'Sweden Pushes to Protect Collective Agreements'. 7 April. URL: http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=1240&date=20050407.
52. Local, The (2005b) 'Builders Union Threatens New Blockade'. 10 May. URL: http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=1408&date=20050510.
53. Mailand, M. and Due, J. (2004) 'Social Dialogue in Central and Eastern Europe: Present State and Future Development', European Journal of Industrial Relations 10 (2). 179 - 197.
54. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (2004) 'News: Under-Secretary of State of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry meets the Swedish Ambassador to Latvia', 17 November. URL: http://www.am.gov.lv/en/eu/news/4341/?ng=5318.
55. Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications Sweden (1999) Foreign Posting of Employees Act, SFS 1999: 678 678.
56. OECD (2003) Labour Market and Social Policies in the Baltic Countries. Paris: OECD.
57. Ost, D. (2000) 'Illusory Corporatism: Tripartism in the Service of Neoliberalism', Politics and Society 28 (4). 503 - 530.
58. Palley, T. (1998) Plenty of Nothing. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
59. Renooy, P., Ivarsson, S., Van der Wusten-Gritsai, O. and Meijer, R. (2004) 'Undeclared Work in an Enlarged Union: An Analysis of Undeclared Work: An In-Depth Study of Specific Items', Final report, May. URL: http://europa.eu. int/comm/employment_social/employment_analysis/work/undecl_work_final_en.pdf. Brussels: European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment and Social Affairs.
60. Republic of Latvia (2004) 'GDP in the 9 months of 2004 increased by 8.5 percent', Press release, 12 December. Riga: Republic of Latvia, Central Statistical Bureau.
61. Rnngren, B. (2005) 'The Directive on the Posting of Workers: The Case of Sweden', Information note, 4 February. Stockholm: LO.
62. Russell, H. and Whelan, C. (2004) Low Income and Deprivation in an Enlarged Europe. Dublin: European Foundation.
63. Sandberg, B., Odgaard, G., Lubanski, N., Bonke, S. and Pedersen, E.F. (eds) (2004) Free Mobility and EU's Enlargement: Migration of the Construction Workers After May 2004, Bygg Rapport R-081. Lyngby: CLRdenmark/BYG.DTU.
64. Stokke, T. and Thrnqvist, C. (2001) 'Strikes and Collective Bargaining in the Nordic Countries', European Journal of Industrial Relations 7 (3). 245 - 267.
65. Svenska Dagbladet (2005) 'Pengastd till lettiskt byggföretag'. 13 June. URL: http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/naringsliv/did_9934110.asp.
66. Turmann, A. and Carrera, S. (2004) Towards a Free Movement of Workers in an Enlarged EU? Brussels: CEPS.
67. Vaughan-Whitehead, D. (2003) EU Enlargement Versus Social Europe: The Uncertain Future of the European Social Model. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
68. Woolfson, C., Beck, M. and S.ceponavicius, A. (2003) 'Workplace Safety and Health in Pre-Accession Lithuania: A Survey', Policy and Practice in Health and Safety 1 (1). 59 - 81.
69. Zepa, B. (ed.) (2004) Ethnic Tolerance and Integration of the Latvian Society. Riga: Baltic Institute of Social Sciences.