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Trade unions, free collective bargaining and industry-wide wage agreements: What purpose do they (still) serve?

Author

Listed:
  • Wernhard Möschel
  • Heinz Lampert
  • Michael Schneider

Abstract

On 10 and 11 December 2004, the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing organised a conference on the subject: Trade unions, free collective bargaining and industry-wide wage agreements: what purpose do they (still) serve? The first day focused on the ability and need for reform in Germany’s industrial relations system so that it can contribute to the attractiveness of Germany as an industrial location in the long run. Prof. Wernhard Moeschel, University of Tübingen, stressed that as cartels, unions and employer associations are outdated social-political models. “The reforms of the future have no place for a collective system of wage bargaining or plant agreements. Both are part of a corporatistic past. Instead, more focus should be on individual work contracts. What is important is to unfetter individual autonomy, which outside of the working world characterises our entire juristic and economic order, for the good of all.” In contrast, Prof. em. Heinz Lampert, University of Augsburg, pointed out the contribution the unions make towards social peace and the social equilibrium of society: “I am convinced that the welfare of considerably large portions of our society would be seriously impaired by major restrictions on the unions’ scope of action.” Also Prof. Dr. Michael Schneider, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, emphasised the willingness of the unions “to assume responsibility for society as a whole”.

Suggested Citation

  • Wernhard Möschel & Heinz Lampert & Michael Schneider, 2005. "Trade unions, free collective bargaining and industry-wide wage agreements: What purpose do they (still) serve?," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 58(02), pages 03-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:58:y:2005:i:02:p:03-15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:mhr:btrord:urn:isbn:9783161459610 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Wernhard Möschel, 2003. "Decentralised wage formation and autonomy in collective bargaining," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 56(15), pages 7-14, August.
    3. Kirstein, Roland & Kittner, Michael & Schmidtchen, Dieter, 2000. "Kündigungsschutzrecht in den USA und in Deutschland: ein Beitrag zur ökonomischen Rechtsvergleichung," CSLE Discussion Paper Series 2000-08, Saarland University, CSLE - Center for the Study of Law and Economics.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects

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