Along came a spider...

Labour law is one of the principal branches of legal studies in Europe. It is most commonly identified as a legal discipline governing the employment relationship and industrial relations. Throughout Europe, it developed in its modern form out of the nineteenth century. The field of study is closely linked with national culture, traditions and histories. For this reason, a ius commune casebook on labour law is not only a challenge, but a terrific example of how national differences could be transcended in the search of common roots and principles, which undeniably exist and merely have to be found.

The casebook will cover major themes of labour law, such as the conceptualisation of labour law, its historical development, the sources of labour law, the formation of the employment contract, the identification of the employment relationship, rights and obligations of employer and employee, termination of employment, discrimination, trade union freedom, collective bargaining, works councils, industrial action and settlement of disputes. It will focus on the law of Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The issues will be brought in connection with developments in European Union law and with principles of the law of the International Labour Organisation.