Trade union working time policies in the EU

Summary Since the 1980s trade unions have lost the initiative in working time policy to employers, who push for longer, more flexible working hours. This article analyses trade union responses both to the emerging challenge of more assertive employer (and government) policies and to the growing diversity in working time preferences among employees. Analysing the who, what, how and why of union working time policies in select EU countries reveals an East-West divide based on differences in unions’ organisational and institutional power resources. Trade unions based in central and eastern European countries, where legislation is the main tool to regulate working time, are inevitably forced to pursue a strategy of defending the status quo. In contrast, those based in western European countries, where working time is primarily regulated by collective agreements, have developed innovative strategies in response to the above challenges.