European Urban Public Transport: Towards a single European employment model?

Abstract

Publicly owned public transport contributed to the distinctive character of 20th century European cities. Today however the sector is being opened to various forms of competition. Using a comparative study of urban public transport in six European countries, the paper traces the emergence of a new European mode of regulation for the sector. This new framework has not however always led to a deterioration in wages or working conditions, since national employment systems remain important. Change has often been justified as leading to improved service quality: traditional public sector employment, above all job security, was seen as contributing to bad service for passengers. Our study however finds no such simple link ? either negative or positive - between the quality of service and the nature of employment.