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

Michael Whittall
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Michael Whittall: Nottingham Trent University

Economic and Industrial Democracy, 2005, vol. 26, issue 4, 569-592

Abstract: This article studies the current malaise of German industrial relations in the face of increased international competition, regional economic integration, the cost of unification and high unemployment. This article contends that the difficulties faced by Modell Deutschland are reflected in a growing tension between works councils and trade union interests. The argument is based on a longitudinal study of changes in working time patterns at the very successful German automobile producer, BMW, as well as a discussion of ‘open clauses’ and plant-level deviations from collective agreements, mainly in the metalworking sector but not exclusively.

Keywords: BMW; collective bargaining; institutional change; Modell Deutschland; trade unions; working time flexibility; works councils (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:26:y:2005:i:4:p:569-592

DOI: 10.1177/0143831X05057502

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