The Curse of Institutional Security - The Erosion of German Trade Unionism

Anke Hassel

Industrielle Beziehungen - Zeitschrift fuer Arbeit, Organisation und Management - The German Journal of Industrial Relations, 2007, vol. 14, issue 2, 176 - 191

Abstract: Among all EU member states, German unions have the widest gap between male and female trade union density rates and are least adjusted to the structural changes stemming from the rise of the service sector on the labour market. This development asks for a more subtle understanding of the role of industrial relations institutions for trade union membership. The paper addresses the phenomenon by locating the main problem areas of membership erosion, such as weak service sector membership and the ageing of membership in manufacturing trade unions. It argues that industrial relations institutions have a double effect. Industry unionism is on the one hand a key pillar for centralized bargaining and institutional stability. On the other hand, stable institutional structures might have contributed to the membership decline.

Keywords: Trade Unions; Membership; Institutional Theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 J51 J52 J53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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