Bargaining-Up: Raising Wages through Collective Bargaining, upward social convergence

forthcoming

The “Bargaining-Up” project aims to strengthen collective bargaining as a strategic tool to improve working conditions, ensure fair wages, reduce in-work poverty, and promote upward social convergence across Europe. Building on ETUC’s “Wage-Up” previous projects, Bargaining-Up supports trade unions in advancing the implementation of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages (AMWD) and enhancing bargaining systems and practices across EU MS and neighbouring countries. Despite the AMWD's adoption in 2022, wage stagnation, weak bargaining coverage, and growing inequalities persist. Many countries have not fully or ambitiously transposed the Directive. Bargaining-Up promotes trade union empowerment, coordination, and knowledge-sharing to unlock the Directive’s potential to secure decent wages and better working conditions. Regardless of the outcome of the pending CJEU case (C-19/23 - Denmark v Parliament and Council), the objectives of the AMWD remain valid. The project goes beyond the Directive and aims to ensure its goals are pursued in any context. It supports affiliates in achieving these objectives, equipping them to negotiate stronger agreements and share good practices. It includes EU candidate countries and non-EU neighbours, promoting fair wages and collective bargaining as core principles across Europe. Bargaining-Up includes 4 thematic workshops on: (1) embedding collective bargaining clauses in public procurement; (2) negotiating working time reduction with full pay; (3) strengthening union capacity and membership for effective bargaining; and (4) promoting the living wage concept. Outcomes will be captured in practical tools and reports to support affiliates’ strategies. A revamped “wage-up.etuc.org” platform will enhance monitoring and benchmarking of wage developments and bargaining systems, including data from candidate and non-EU countries. It will serve as a hub for comparisons, legislative tracking and tools to support evidence-based union action.