This article explores union representation in academia across Europe, focusing on public universities. Despite academia's seemingly favourable conditions for unionisation, such as high levels of formal education and stable employment, the sector faces unique challenges. The study examines how unions are organised, their bargaining counterparts, the collective agreements they negotiate, and the limitations they face. It compares academic trade unions in five European regions: North (Denmark and Sweden), Centre (Belgium and Germany), South (Spain and Portugal), East (Slovenia and Hungary), and West (Ireland and the UK). Key issues include the impact of market logic and digitalisation on academic work, the increasingly precarious nature of employment relationships, and the challenges of maintaining academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The article highlights the issue of academia being both a privileged and individualistic occupation, which complicates collective action. It also addresses the role of trade unions in university governance. The article generates focused questions for further empirical study on how trade unions are adapting to the changing context of work in academia, providing insights into contemporary trade unionism in the public sector.
Franca et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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