Research Assistant in Labour Politics

Research Assistant in Labour Politics and the EU’s New Economic Governance Regime

Applications are invited for a 2-year fixed-term, full-time Research Assistant in European integration and employment relations, starting on 1 October 2020.

You will be a member of our ERC funded research team on the EU’s new economic governance regime (NEG) and the contradictory trajectories for trade unions and social movements it is opening. The ERC project focuses on the way in which European trade unions and new social movements in the public transport, water, and healthcare sectors respond to NEG at the EU level as well as in Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Romania. Until recently, EU labour politics has been shaped mainly by horizontal market integration through the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people. Since the Euro crisis, the latter has been complemented by ‘vertical’ hierarchical integration effected through the direct surveillance of member states’ macroeconomic policies, including industrial relations  and public services provision (Erne 2018). The resulting new EU economic governance regime (NEG) opens contradictory possibilities for labour politics in Europe. Are unions and social movements politicising NEG along national or (transnational) class divides?

This is a research assistant role where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by training and development under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator (PI). In particular, the successful candidate will assist the PI in analysing collective action of trade unions and social movements, the COVID-19 emergency, and their feedback effects on NEG and labour politics at the EU-level as well as Germany, Ireland, Italy, or Romania.

Salary: €22,609 – €35,218 per annum

Appointment on the above salary range will be dependent on qualifications and experience.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct a specified  programme of research and  scholarship under the  supervision  and direction of your Principal
• Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which you are engaged as directed by and with the support of and under the supervision of your Principal
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by your Principal Investigator, your School or Institute, or the
• Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of your research group, School and
• Carry out  administrative  work  associated  with  your  programme  of  research  and  any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the scope and level of the post.