Since 1996, an international series of telework workshops has been conducted to
promote academic research in the domain of telework and other new forms of work,
and to encourage exchange between researchers and practitioners in the field. In
order to further strengthen this research basis, a preparatory committee was set
up in June 2003 to prepare for the launch of an International telework Academy,
which successfully took place at the 8th International Telework Workshop in Sao
Paulo, Brazil in August 2003.
It is with great pleasure, therefore, that the inaugural Board of Directors
announces the official launch of the International Telework Academy (ITA) and
calls for all interested parties to register as members of the ITA mailing list
on the Academy's Web Page (http://www.telework-academy.org).
Academy Outline
The International Telework Academy is a virtual organization dedicated to:
1) Promoting research in the field of telework and other new forms of work;
2) Strengthening ties between the international telework research community;
3) Facilitating exchange between academic researchers, business practitioners
and public policy makers.
- Membership is free and is open to all individuals with a research interest in
telework and other new forms of work
- An annual International Telework Research Workshop will be conducted under the
Academy's auspices
- The Academy will host a mailing list for members
Please visit the Home Page to learn more about the Academy and to register as a
member.
We look forward to your support as we work to consolidate the Academy and create
an active virtual research community.
Inaugural Board of Directors
International Telework Academy (info@telework-academy.org)
Andrew Gaudes (CANADA)
Beverly Leeds (UK)
Diana Limburg (NETHERLANDS)
Alvaro Mello (BRAZIL)
Lefki Papacharalambous (UK/GREECE)
Wendy Spinks (JAPAN)
Reima Suomi (FINLAND)
Jack M. Nilles, President
JALA International, Inc.
971 Stonehill Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1412
Tel: +1 (310) 476-3703
Fax: +1 (310) 476-6007 mailto:jnilles@jala.com www.jala.com/
Teleworking
booms in Europe
Though lagging behind the US, the number of teleworkers in Europe has doubled in
the past three years to 20 million, according to new survey published by the
Bonn Empirica. Increase is not due to typical teleworking, but to independent
staff in small businesses and office workers taking work home
In June 2003, the Swedish social partners agreed a set of joint guidelines on
the national implementation of the European framework agreement on telework,
concluded by the EU-level social partners in 2002.
In late June 2003, Sweden's main trade union and employers' confederations
agreed joint guidelines for implementing the European framework agreement on
telework signed in July 2002 ( EU0207204F) by the EU-level central social
partners - the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Council of
European Professional and Managerial Staff (EUROCADRES)/European Confederation
of Executives and Managerial Staff (CEC) liaison committee, the Union of
Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE)/the European
Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and the
European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of
General Economic Interest (CEEP). The EU-level telework agreement was the first
cross-industry agreement between the social partners which was not intended to
be implemented by an EU Directive, but by the national member organisations of
the signatory parties 'in accordance with the procedures and practices specific
to
management and labour in the Member States' .
The Swedish social partner organisations see the EU telework agreement as a
positive development in the European social dialogue, which concurs with the
views of the Swedish labour market parties. On previous occasions, European
social partner agreements were given legal force by EU Directives and then
implemented by new legislation in Sweden. The approach of leaving implementation
to the social partners themselves fits more closely the Swedish model of
industrial relations.
The Swedish guidelines refer to the principles set out in the European telework
agreement in areas such as employment conditions, data protection, health and
safety, and work organisation. However, it is noted that, in concluding
collective agreements on telework, the Swedish social partners will have to take
into account different conditions in various branches, sectors, companies,
governmental authorities and other public establishments, as well as conditions
for individual workers. The seven organisations will make a joint report on
implementation to the European-level social partners by 31 December 2005.
The employers' organisations that agreed the guidelines for Swedish
implementation of the telework agreement were:
the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv);
the Swedish Association of Local Authorities (Svenska Kommunförbundet);
the Federation of County Councils (Svenska Landstingsförbundet); and
the Swedish Agency for Government Employees (Arbetsgivarverket).
The trade union signatories were:
the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen, LO);
the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (Tjänstemännens
Centralorganisation, TCO); and
the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikernas
Centralorganisation, SACO).
