Trust in Relations between Unions and Employers in Europe (TRUE EUROPE)

2026-07-22

Research indicates that trust between employer and employee representatives may have beneficial effects for companies and employees. One important effect is the strengthening of collective bargaining, which is an important aim at European and national levels. There is a lack of comparative research in the EU on the mechanisms and outcomes of trust in industrial relations. The purpose of TRUE EUROPE is to connect determinants of trust with the functioning and outcomes of trust in social partner relations. We explore and explain the bases, forms, and effects of trust at both local and sector level. The project is a comparison of three sectors (Metal, Transport and Banking and Finance) in countries with different industrial relations systems. A mixed-methods approach will be used, with qualitative studies in 8 countries (CZ, AT, IE, LT, SE, SK, RO, RS), and quantitative analyses of large datasets to produce generalizable empirical results. The project will focus on trust in employment and industrial relations relating to the areas of A) Digitalization; B) Skills and training; C) OHS. While wages belong to core areas of bargaining, this broader focus makes it possible to study trust also in countries with underdeveloped wage bargaining, where topics beyond wages can serve as drivers of trust development and strengthen bargaining in the long run. The project is led by Linnaeus University in Sweden and consists of senior and junior researchers across the EU, with experience of previous cooperation in researching European industrial relations. The results will be of importance to both national and EU-level social partners and policymakers. The consortium will engage social partners in cooperation and dissemination activities, enabling information exchange and mutual learning concerning how to increase and stabilize trust in industrial relations. Thereby the project promotes an understanding of potential trajectories to strengthen collective bargaining.

Sweden

2025-12-01