Green collective bargaining

Background

Social dialogue and collective bargaining are crucial for delivering a just transition. However, studies show that environmental issues are rarely included in collective agreements across EU countries, despite the potential benefits of green collective bargaining in promoting sustainability, decarbonisation, the circular economy and climate change mitigation. The European Commission has already recognised the need to involve workers and their representatives in environmental management.

The EESC considers that collective bargaining is a key tool for companies and workers to address climate challenges and associated costs. What's more, when green issues are discussed as part of collective bargaining, the debate focuses on negotiable clauses between the social partners within collective agreements that have a direct and indirect effect on the environment. This, among other things, includes the environmental impact of companies, the protection of workers from the effects of the environment and climate change and the impact of green transformation on work organisation and employee skills.

A number of good practices in the field of green collective bargaining across the EU are listed in the appendix to the opinion.

Key points

In the opinion:

• the EESC points out that businesses and workers need to have proper avenues for participating in environmental protection and addressing climate change. It suggests that issues related to the green transition should receive more attention in collective bargaining, while respecting national industrial relations systems and social partner autonomy;

• with a view to the significant impact of the green transition on jobs, working conditions and living standards, the EESC calls for collective bargaining to address issues such as employment, social cohesion, job creation, sector transitions, worker training, older workers' vulnerability, workplace health and safety, commuting in cities and energy efficiency;

• the EESC urges the EU, Member States and social partners to take more committed and effective measures to promote green-focused collective bargaining at appropriate levels. It suggests considering the concept of designated employees as environmental transition representatives or contact points in the workplace.

The text of the draft opinion can be found here.

Additional information

Section: Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)

Opinion number: SOC/747

Opinion type: Exploratory opinion at the request of the Spanish presidency of the EU Council

Rapporteur: Maria del Carmen BARRERA CHAMORRO

Co-rapporteur: Marinel Dănuț MURESAN

Reference: Letter from the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, 27/7/2022

Date of adoption by section: 31/5/2023

Result of the vote: 74 in favour / 0 against / 0 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 14/6/2023

Result of the vote: 196 in favour / 2 against / 11 abstentions

Contacts:

Press officer: Laura Lui

Tel.:     00 32 2 546 9189

email:  laurairena.lui@eesc.europa.eu

Administrator: Triin Aasmaa Gomes

Tel.:     00 32 2 546 9524

email:  Triin.AasmaaGomes@eesc.europa.eu