| ID | 121439 |
| Title Proper | Borders of solidarity? trade unions, social entitlements and regional integration |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Thomas, Adrien |
| Publication | 2013. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article explores the effects of borders on the making of trade union policies and on their capacity to act. It takes as an entry-point the reform of Luxembourg's system of family allowances and financial support for students in 2010, which redefined the group of beneficiaries and partly excluded cross-border workers from neighbouring countries. This led to heated debates in Luxembourg and in the Greater Region (comprising Luxembourg, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lorraine and Wallonia) during which trade unions played an important part. The author explores the contradictory logics of both competition and cooperation within the Greater Region. These lead to a gap between integration as a discourse and what it means for local populations, in particular regarding labour market competition. The debates within trade unions on the issue of social entitlements for cross-border workers offer insights into the dynamics of this dichotomy and into the everyday fabric of cross-border social relations. |
| `In' analytical Note | Geopolitics Vol: 18 No 1; 2013: p.157-177 |
| Journal Source | Geopolitics Vol: 18 No 1 |
| Key Words | Trade Unions ; Regional Integration ; Reform of Luxembourg's System ; Luxembourg ; Competition ; Cooperation ; Labour Market |