Social dialogue

Due to the presence of strong trade unions and employers' organizations, global dialogue is generally well established throughout the industry. Unionization rates are relatively high in the sector, in particular in former state-owned enterprises. At the same time, newly developed plants or small mills are sometimes not unionized. In the wake of the ongoing globalisation of the industry and the creation of multinational metal companies, social dialogue both on a regional basis (such as within the European Union through the re-establishment of a sectoral committee for the steel industry in June 2006), as well as on an international basis (between trade unions and companies) has grown considerably. Tangible results of the internationalisation of social dialogue are, for example, the international framework agreements negotiated between the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and specific companies on issues including, inter alia, rights at work, safety and health and training.

Useful links/resources

• Employers' organizations
• Workers' organizations
• Objectives and work programme of the social dialogue committee in the steel industry, (June 2006-June 2008)