This timely book analyses the relationship between trade unions, immigration and migrant workers across eleven European countries in the period between the 1990s and 2015. It constitutes an extensive update of a previous comparative analysis – published by Rinus Penninx and Judith Roosblad in 2000 – that has become an important reference in the field. The book offers an overview of how trade unions manage issues of inclusion and solidarity in the current economic and political context, characterized by increasing challenges for labour organizations and rising hostility towards migrants. The qualitative analysis of trade union strategies towards immigration and migrant workers is based on a common analytical framework centred on the idea of ‘dilemmas’ that trade unions have to face when dealing with immigration and migrant workers. This approach facilitates comparative analysis and distinguishes patterns of union policies and actions across three groups of countries, identifying some explanations for observed similarities and differences. In addition, the book also includes theoretical chapters by expert scholars from a range of disciplinary fields including industrial relations, migration studies and political economy. This comprehensive comparative analysis is an essential resource for academics across a range of disciplines as well as policy-makers, practitioners and organizations involved in trade unions and migrant inclusion and integration.

Foreword by Done-One Kim Foreword by Moussa Oumarou and Manuela Tomei 1. Introduction: How to study trade union action towards immigration and migrant workers? Part I Changing contextual conditions for trade union action 2. Economic and labour market change and policies: Before and beyond austerity in Europe 3. Migration and its regulation in an integrating Europe 4. Migrants in the public discourse: Between media, policy and public opinion 5. Trade unions in Europe: Challenges and responses Part II Trade union attitudes and actions relating to immigration and migrant workers in 11 European countries 6. Trade unions and migration in Austria, 1993-2015 7. France: The assimilationist model called into question 8. Trade unions and migrant workers in Germany: Unions between national and transnational labour market segmentation 9. The Netherlands: Finding common ground in an increasingly fragmented workforce 10. Sweden: A model in dissolution? 11. Trade unions and migrant workers in the UK: Organising in a cold climate 12. Trade unions and migrant workers in Ireland: New organisational opportunities under changed circumstances 13. Trade unions and migrant workers in Italy: Between labour and social rights 14. Trade unions and immigration in Spain: The politics and framing of social inclusion within industrial relations 15. Trade unions and migration in the Czech Republic, 2004-15 16. Trade unions and migrant workers in Poland: First stage of a work in progress Part III Analysis and conclusions 17. Comparing trade union attitudes and actions relating to immigration and migrant workers in 11 European countries Index