Industrial Relations In West Germany

This volume provides a survey of the institutional and legal complexities of systems of industrial relations in German 'industrial culture', with a particular focus on the West German case.

Case study of labour relations in the Volkswagen (VW) motor vehicle industry in Germany, Federal Republic - reveals how trade unions, trade union structure and the institutional framework contribute to high labour productivity of industrial workers and efficiency in industrial production, exemplified by (1) the 1975 VW Redundancy Scheme, (2) the set-up of a VW assembly factory in the USA (multinational enterprise), and (3) collective bargaining on overtime at Opel and VW; includes excerpts of 1975 labour legislation on works councils. Bibliography.

Study of the labour relations system in public administration in Germany, Federal Republic - comments on labour legislation relating to the working conditions of civil servants and public servants and covers procedures and patterns in collective bargaining, dispute settlement and wage determination, the impact of trade unionisation, strike history, etc. References.

Labour Law and Industrial Relations in Germany gives the reader a broad understanding of German labour law covering all important aspects. The book deals with the sources of labour law, individual employment relationships, collective bargaining, remuneration, working conditions, and dispute settlement.

First published in 1986, this book assesses the politics of the West German trade unions in the context of their larger role as major actors in the polity. By focusing on the historical realities of the labour movement both before and after 1945, the study explains the extent to which organized labour solidified and challenged the dominant structures of politics and authority. It examines the metalworkers’ union, the construction workers’ union, the printers’ union and the chemical workers’ union and shows how the industrial reality of each organisation helped shape its political outlook and strategic thinking. This book will be of particular interest to students of trade unions, industrial relations and political economy in West Germany.

Comprises five papers which compare industrial relations in Germany and the USA. Focuses on the intersection between the strategies and practices of employers, unions, and employer associations and the cultural and institutional frameworks within which they operate. Includes a general comparison of employment relations in the two countries.