Modell Deutschland under Pressure: The Growing Tensions between Works                 Councils and Trade Unions

Whittall, Michael

doi:10.1177/0143831x05057502

Cited by 18 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This suggests a positive link between collective bargaining coverage and works council introduction. On the other hand, case‐study evidence shows that the relationships between councils and unions are not always without conflicts (French 2001; Whittall 2005). Moreover, a theoretical analysis by Hübler and Jirjahn (2003) suggests that collective bargaining coverage may discourage workers from adopting a council.…”

Section: Data and Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Introduction of Works Councils in German Establishments — Rent Seeking or Rent Protection?

Jirjahn

2009

Brit J Industrial Rel

122

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some recent empirical studies seem to suggest that German works councils engage in rent-seeking activities rather than in the creation of joint establishment surplus. However, those cross-sectional studies do not address the issue of causation. We address this issue by investigating the factors that influence the employees' decision to introduce a works council in their establishment. Councils are more likely to be adopted in establishments with a very poor sales situation and poor employment growth. They are also more likely to be adopted in establishments where management does not pursue an expansive market strategy. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that employees introduce works councils to protect the quasi-rents they have created by their efforts and human capital investments. Copyright (c) Blackwell Publishing Ltd/London School of Economics 2009.

show abstract

Section: Data and Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Introduction of Works Councils in German Establishments — Rent Seeking or Rent Protection?

Jirjahn

2009

Brit J Industrial Rel

122

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Germany, the growing use of opening clauses shifted power from the sector level to the plant level with its dual system of representation based on works councils' codetermination rights (Whittal, 2005). Hence, tensions arose between the sectoral union strategy and the agreements concluded by works councils.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporary Agency Work and Trade Unions in Comparative Perspective

Doerflinger

Pulignano

2015

Sage Open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The article examines local union approaches toward temporary agency work in Belgium and Germany. Heterogeneous plantlevel use of temporary work is explained by differences in collective bargaining, together with representation structures and rights for agency workers. Specifically, within a context providing effective rights for representation, the Belgian unions responded to firms' economic difficulties by improving the working conditions of agency workers through negotiating plant-level agreements that contributed to fostering equality between agency workers and regular workers. In contrast, agency work became instrumental in safeguarding the core workforce's employment in the German workplaces, where the representation rights were absent. As a result, the status of agency workers remained vulnerable.

show abstract

“…In addition, part of the success story is the unified representational framework instead of two separate power bases as is the case in Germany, where a growing tension between works councils and trade union interests have led to plant-level deviations from collective agreements (Whittall, 2005). In the Finnish industrial relations system, the simultaneous conduct of codetermination procedures and company bargaining fits naturally into the functions of trade unions.…”

Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local bargaining and codetermination: Finnish experience in comparative perspective

Сиппола

2012

European Journal of Industrial Relations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The decentralization of collective bargaining raises important issues, especially in the Nordic countries, where collective bargaining is centralized at industry level. These countries also have a 'single channel' of representation through trade union structures at both national and workplace levels, in contrast to much of Europe where there is a formal separation between works councils (as bodies for consultation and codetermination) and trade unions (as bodies for collective bargaining). This article reports research findings from Finland, where strong union branches have better capabilities in conducting the simultaneous tasks. If unions cannot actively develop the agenda for local bargaining, further experimentation in joint consultation can be expected, and this will provide a real test for the authority of local unions. The findings have broader implications for Nordic industrial relations.

show abstract

Modell Deutschland under Pressure: The Growing Tensions between Works Councils and Trade Unions

Cited by 18 publications

References 9 publications

The Introduction of Works Councils in German Establishments — Rent Seeking or Rent Protection?

The Introduction of Works Councils in German Establishments — Rent Seeking or Rent Protection?

Temporary Agency Work and Trade Unions in Comparative Perspective

Local bargaining and codetermination: Finnish experience in comparative perspective

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About