This issue of Transfer identifies and analyses the main forces driving the privatisation of public services. It discusses the processes of privatisation and the consequences for the trade union movement and industrial relations in general. The wider impact on citizenship and democracy is also analysed.

This issue’s coordinators: Maria da Paz Campos Lima; Jens Lind

The network of trade union-related research institutes (TURI) has been created in order to facilitate the cooperation and exchange of knowledge between the institutes supporting the trade union movement across Europe while integrating the European dimension more naturally in their research work. It is a structural and non-thematic platform based on formal contacts between the institutes. TURI aims at helping trade union-related institutes to engage in comparative research. It is a tool for mapping expertise and it should facilitate the emergence of common projects. The network will be holding its first conference ‘The Future of Trade Union Structures and Strategies’ on 14th October in Brussels. The aim of the conference is to stimulate debate between the different national trade union related research institutions and trade union leaders, to exchange research results on different trade union structures and strategies and to deepen analysis that points towards policy implications for trade unions.

Wage differentials across sectors in Europe: an east-west comparison
By François Rycx, Ilan Tojerow and Daphné Valsamis

Precarious employment in the public and private sectors: comparing the UK and Germany
By Janine Leschke and Maarten Keune

Between innovation and ambiguity. The role of flexicurity in labour market analysis and policy making
By Maarten Keune