Works councils in unified Germany: still loyal to the trade unions?

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between German trade unions and works councils, adopting a framework that identifies three main influences on the works council; the locus of bargaining, economic conditions and the strength of workplace unionism. The findings of an attitudinal survey of works council chairpersons in the metalworking industry, which examines both the influence of trade unions and the impact of unification on workplace industrial relations, are then reported. The results suggest that union density and union workplace organisation does strengthen the loyalty of works councillors to their union and that east German works councillors in metalworking may have more co‐operative relationships with management. Comparisons with the clothing industry, however, show larger sectoral differences, with metalworking works councils much less co‐operative in both the old and new Länder, reflecting the vanguard role of IG Metall and the importance of workplace mobilisation to the union.