Diversité des équipes de délégués et fondements communs de la représentation collective: Comparaisons internationales et retour

The first line of representation for workers at the level of the firm is that of workplace delegates or stewards. These front-line representatives fulfill their roles in different ways and in a great variety of circumstances. International comparisons help to shed light on this phenomenon. Indeed, empirical work offers a way of going beyond simple differences between national models. Our analysis indicates that in-country diversities in practice are at least as great as the variations between countries. It is nonetheless possible, in terms of key sociological principles, to identify certain commonalities as to why some groups of workplace delegates are weaker or stronger than others. Their relationship with their members, their ability to organize links outside of their workplace, their ability to strategize over time and their capacity to ensure their own development as a group are among the most important factors that are common to every country considered in this study. This analysis leads to theoretical, methodological and practical consequences as well as to the identification of paths for union renewal. [PUB ABSTRACT]