Industrieangestellte: Von der Beitrags- zur Arbeitnehmerorientierung?

The times when white-collar workers in German industry were a privileged minority are over. First, this is due to the fact that the groups of white and blue-collar workers in industry have now become equally large. Second, the distinction between white and blue-collar workers in social insurance and labour law and in important collective agreements has been removed. Furthermore, white-collar workers have increasingly become subject to restructuring, staff and cost cutting and the subsequent consequences. Therefore, the article examines the question of how these developments affect the interests of white-collar workers. In a sociological perspective we ask if white-collar workers maintain their traditional “focus on contribution” despite changing working conditions or if they develop a “new worker identity”. In addition to that we examine to what extent works councils can reach white-collar workers with the help of initiatives tailored to the needs and interests of this group.