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

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

doi:10.1177/0143831x14559784

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

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

Authors

Professor John Addison john.addison@durham.ac.uk
Professor

P. Teixiera

A. Pahnke

L. Bellman

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

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Copyright Statement
Addison, J. and Teixiera, P. and Pahnke, A. and Bellman, L. (2017) 'The demise of a model? The state of collective bargaining and worker representation in Germany.', Economic and industrial democracy., 38 (2). pp. 193-234. Copyright © The Author(s) 2014. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.