University PhD Research Studentship
[GSBS/ISSJR] http://www.gcu.ac.uk/gsbs/research/researchgroups/
Reference Number: S2014GSBS036
Studentship Project Title: The Impact of the financial crisis on the social acquis in Europe: Industrial
relations, collective bargaining and the role of the trade unions’
Applications are invited for a full-time PhD research studentship at Glasgow Caledonian University within
the [GSBS/ISSJR]. The studentship is for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress and
provides payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate plus an annual stipend of £14,800 [please note that
students from outside the EU are required to pay the difference between International and EU fees,
currently this would amount to £7,100 per annum]. The successful candidate will carry out up to 6 hours
of academic-related work per week as part of their research training.
Research Discipline
Sociology/Law
Research Theme
Social Justice/Citizen and Participation
Research Project Summary
The current economic and financial crisis erupted several years ago. Its effects impacted deeply upon
society, in which legal rules and social patterns have developed to enable the establishment of
civilisation, justice and peace. Over time it has become more and more obvious that policy, financial and
economic actors have adopted austerity measures as a main tool to solve the ensuing problems, and that
these measures have hit social policy standards sometimes dramatically.
Generally speaking, there has also been a long-term trend towards the decentralisation of collective
bargaining towards firm level. The economic crisis has challenged the social partners to find consensual
solutions right across the EU27, with varying levels of success. As a result, what has been noticed is a turn
away from tripartite structures, reflecting the severity of the economic crisis and the tarnishing of the
highly institutionalised social partnership process.
In 2011 the European Commission warned about the prospect of what it termed ‘disorganised
decentralisation’, and pointed to the importance of state-provided frameworks to underpin collective
bargaining in the absence of national level structures. Key issues for the future of industrial relations in
Europe are how best to steer de-centralised collective bargaining, while tackling growing pressures on
the State’s dispute resolution structures and avoiding industrial conflict, in the public sector in particular.
The aim of the proposed project is to test the theory that the implications of the crisis on the trade unions
in Europe are serious. It is suggested that the imposed legislative reforms weaken the institutional role of
trade unions and by depleting their bargaining power and curtailing fundamental institutional tools and
safeguards. They undermine the functioning of trade union organisations and threaten the cohesion of
collective representation. Furthermore, workers and trade unions in a fragmented labour market
characterised by flexibility, face an uneven playing field, since employers’ options are being excessively
reinforced. In this light, serious challenges have emerged for the trade unions. They have to cope with
extensive institutional disempowerment while working to protect workers’ rights effectively against the
combined economic and social impact of crisis and austerity.
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Supervisory Team
Director of Studies: Dr. Manos Maganaris, GSBS
First Supervisor: Prof. Alex de-Ruyter, GSBS
Second Supervisor: Leaza McSorley,GSBS
Staff Contact
Dr. Manos Maganaris, LEAR, GSBS
email: e.maganais@gcu.ac.uk
Tel: +44141 3313517
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the University Research Application Form, available from:
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/phdresearchopportunities/
Please send the form, stating the studentship project title and reference number, with a CV, copies of
academic qualifications, references, and any other required documentation to:
researchapplications@gcu.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 19-Dec-14
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