Mediation and Conciliation in Collective Labor Conflicts in Italy.

With the support of the EC (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) a project was conducted to examine and promote third party intervention in collective labor conflicts in 12 European countries. Three studies were conducted. Study 1 was mainly a documental study offering a socio-political, institutional and legal analysis of each mediation system, including interviews with experts on the current status. Study 2 was a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of mediation systems from the users’ perspective. Interviews and focus groups were conducted in order to assess employers’ and employees’ motives to use or not use third party services for conciliation or mediation, and the satisfaction with and expectations towards these services. Study 3 was also a comparative analysis, this time from the providers perspective. Exploring their perception of the system in their home country, experiences, ideas for improving the use and quality of the mediation process. The studies have been discussed at symposia in each country and an international conference in Brussels.