ABSTRACT

The German dual system of labour relations is at a crossroads. The two cornerstones of the system, collective bargaining at the industry level and codetermination of works councils in companies and establishments, are eroding. Only one third of the workforce is now covered by both institutions. In this situation, trade unions have developed new strategies for revitalisation, including new strategies regarding derogations from collective bargaining agreements, new approaches to organising, and new projects to activate works councils. As a result, the traditional boundaries between union action at the establishment and industry levels, traditionally characterised by a strict separation of roles between works councils and trade unions, are dissolving. The trade unions are now developing active strategies at the establishment level with the aim of strengthening their position in the companies, and strengthening the capacity of works councils to act. At the same time, the importance of works councils as actors in collective bargaining is increasing. This new interplay of actors and levels seems to be an important precondition for the revitalisation of German industrial relations, even if it does not mean that all problems will be solved.

摘要

德国劳动关系的双重制度正处于十字路口。该系统的两个基石，行业层面的集体谈判和公司和机构中工作委员会的共同决定，正在被侵蚀。现在这两个机构只覆盖了三分之一的劳动力。在这种情况下，工会制定了振兴的新战略，包括关于克减集体谈判协议的新战略、新的组织方法以及激活工作委员会的新项目。因此，传统上以劳资委员会和工会之间的角色严格分离为特征的基层工会行动与行业层面的工会行动之间的传统界限正在瓦解。工会现在正在基层制定积极的战略，目的是加强他们在公司中的地位，并加强工会的行动能力。与此同时，劳资委员会作为集体谈判参与者的重要性正在增加。这种新的参与者和层次的相互作用似乎是重振德国劳资关系的重要前提，即使这并不意味着所有问题都会得到解决。