10.2190/847M-2BAN-Y55R-0F29 847M2BANY55R0F29 0 TRADE UNIONS AND ECONOMIC POLICIES--A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=847M2BANY55R0F29 3 DEREK ROBINSON Collective bargaining differs in Europe and the U.S. in the European trade unions have been willing in general, to modify their wage demands in return for influence over larger but related areas of their government's economic and social policies. The labor experiences of Austria, Ireland, The Netherlands, Finland, and Great Britain are described briefly and analyzed. It is concluded that the European bargaining concept requires its unions to have a political character and ideological commitments. Also needed are central organizations capable of formulating and presenting overall labor and employer positions.