The demise of a model? The state of collective bargaining and worker representation in Germany

Addison, J.; Teixiera, P.; Pahnke, A.; Bellman, L.

Abstract

This article investigates collective bargaining trends in the German private sector since 2000. Using data from the IAB Establishment Panel and the German Establishment History Panel, it provides both cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence on these developments. It confirms that the hemorrhaging of sectoral bargaining, first observed in the 1980s and 1990s, is ongoing. Furthermore, works councils are also in decline, so that the dual system also displays erosion. For their part, any increases in collective bargaining at firm level have been minimal in recent years, while the behavior of newly-founded and closing establishments does not seem to lie at the root of a burgeoning collective bargaining free sector. Although there are few obvious signs of an organic reversal of the process, some revitalization of the bargaining system from above is implied by the labor policies of the new coalition government.

Citation

Addison, J., Teixiera, P., Pahnke, A., & Bellman, L. (2017). The demise of a model? The state of collective bargaining and worker representation in Germany. Economic and Industrial Democracy, 38(2), 193-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831x14559784

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 12, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Dec 17, 2014
• Publication Date: May 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 28, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 24, 2015
• Journal: Economic and Industrial Democracy
• Print ISSN: 0143-831X
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7099
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 193-234
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831x14559784
• Keywords: Dual system, External erosion, Germany, Sectoral/firm-level collective bargaining, Works councils.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1416635