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What Triggers the Establishment of a Works Council?

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Author Info
Jens Mohrenweiser () (Institute for Strategy and Business Economics, University of Zurich)
Paul Marginson () (Warwick Business School)
Uschi Backes-Gellner () (Institute for Strategy and Business Economics, University of Zurich)

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Abstract

This paper presents the first survey evidence about the agent and associated event which triggers the establishment of a works council. We argue that the request of risk protection is a relevant trigger mechanism and show that an organisational shock causes the establishing of a works council. We argue that an organisational shock increases uncertainty of the workforce based on information asymmetries about the security of the workplaces. Furthermore, we show that the workforce alone calls for election in around two third of all cases and in the other third, the management was involved in the establishment. Here, the management values the expected productivity enhancement more than the potential rent redistribution.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University of Zurich, Institute for Strategy and Business Economics (ISU) in its series Working Papers with number 0101.

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Length: 32 pages
Date of creation: Mar 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:iso:wpaper:0101

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Related research
Keywords: co-determination; workers voice; establishment of a works council;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
J53 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Labor-Management Relations; Industrial Jurisprudence
J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Private Pensions
J83 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Workers' Rights
M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Carola M. Frege, 2002. "A Critical Assessment of the Theoretical and Empirical Research on German Works Councils," British Journal of Industrial Relations, Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics, vol. 40(2), pages 221-248, 06. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Addison, John T. & Bellmann, Lutz & Pahnke, André & Teixeira, Paulino, 2008. "A Note on the Determinants and Consequences of Outsourcing Using German Data," IZA Discussion Papers 3608, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. John T. Addison & Claus Schnabel & Joachim Wagner, 2004. "The Course of Research into the Economic Consequences of German Works Councils," British Journal of Industrial Relations, Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics, vol. 42(2), pages 255-281, 06. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  4. Olaf H¸bler & Uwe Jirjahn, 2003. "Works Councils and Collective Bargaining in Germany: The Impact on Productivity and Wages," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 50(4), pages 471-491, 09. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  5. Uwe Jirjahn, 2009. "The Introduction of Works Councils in German Establishments - Rent Seeking or Rent Protection?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics, vol. 47(3), pages 521-545, 09. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Jelle Visser, 1995. "The Netherlands: From Paternalism to Representation," NBER Chapters, in: Works Councils: Consultation, Representation, and Cooperation in Industrial Relations, pages 79-114 National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!]
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Jens Mohrenweiser & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2009. "Die Wirkung des Betriebsverfassungsgesetzes am Beispiel der Freistellung von Betriebsräten – ein Beitrag zur Rechtstatsachenforschung," Working Papers 0104, University of Zurich, Institute for Strategy and Business Economics (ISU). [Downloadable!]
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