Unfortunately we do not have a summary for this item at the moment

Part 1 The logic of "concertative" economic policies: the context of "concertation" in post-war political economy; the logic of trade union action; conditions facilitating concertation. Part 2 The international context of the Irish case: political adaptation in small open economies; the economic context of pay policy in Ireland; collective bargaining as a focus of policy interest. Part 3 The politicization of collective bargaining: the centralized agreements 1970-1980; centralized agreements and government's input. Part 4 Evaluating the centralized pay agreements: performance in areas of employer and trade union interest; the role of government. Part 5 The trade union movement - capacity for strategy and problems of collective action: collective identity and collective action; the structure of the trade union movement; ICTU as a strategic actor; implications for trade union strategy; the intensification of local bargaining activity. Part 6 Employers' associations and centralized bargaining: associability and collective purpose in employers' associations; membership and functions of employers' associations; implications for employers' solidarity; employers' associations and government policy. Part 7 Economic interests and party politics: the significance of the role of government; the parliamentary representation of interests; non-ideological politics and the electoral system; priorities in public policy; the dominance of the concertative approach. Part 8 Collective bargaining in the 1980s: employers' experiences of collective bargaining in recession; the trade unions' responses to recession; government's experiences - fiscal and pay policy; the approach to a new centralized agreement. Conclusion: structural change in the small open economy; dependent development in the small open economy; centralized agreements and class politics; public policy and trade union strategy.