Tijdens, K.G., Besamusca, J., Ceccon, D., Cetrulo, A., van Klaveren, M., Medas, G., & Szüdi, G. (2022). Comparing the Content of Collective Agreements across the European Union: Is Europe-wide Data Collection Feasible? E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies, Volume 11 No. 02/2022
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ABSTRACT
Collective bargaining is central to wage-setting and working conditions, but knowledge about what exactly has been concluded in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) in Europe is limited. In light of the debate about a European Minimum Wage this information gap is evident. This article aims to explore the feasibility of an EU-wide CBA data collection. We conclude that such a database could cover all CBAs for nine countries, all multi-employer CBAs for another nine countries and a selection of CBAs for two countries. Data collection for the remaining countries has to rely on CBAs collected from social partners. Realisation of an EU-wide CBA Database seems a doable but challenging task. When CBA texts would be collected and coded, the content of CBAs could be compared across member states. The WageIndicator CBA Database is an example of a cross-country coding scheme for CBA texts. Text-mining options are explored as a promising way forward as to reduce coding efforts.