Author
Abstract
The traditional German model of social partnership has been cracked by the dualisation of the labour market. The central question of this paper is whether the transformation is a “critical juncture” (Thelen 1999) for revitalising the social partnership. The evaluation of the future collective agreements in the metal and electrical industry shows a transition from “after-care” co-determination to strategic co-determination of the transformation only in those areas with strong trade unions and strong co-determination. In the zones of the labour market free of collective bargaining and co-determination, the social partnership must first regain a foothold by increasing collective bargaining coverage. However, the most important instrument for this, the declaration of general applicability, is being blocked by the employers. Whether a political majority can be found for more farreaching solutions beyond the announced Tariff Compliance Act is not foreseeable. In summary, transformation and digitalisation were triggers for important reforms in collective bargaining and company policy and also in public policy in the area of labour market policy and procurement. They provided the “narrative” for the need for a new policy agenda with strong involvement of the social partners. Das traditionelle deutsche Modell der Sozialpartnerschaft hat durch Spaltung des Arbeitsmarktes Risse bekommen. Die zentrale Frage dieses Beitrags ist, ob die Transformation eine „critical juncture“ (Thelen 1999) zur Revitalisierung der Sozialpartnerschaft ist. Die Auswertung der Zukunftstarifverträge in der Metall- und Elektroindustrie zeigt einen Übergang von einer „nachsorgenden“ Mitbestimmung hin zu einer strategischen Mitgestaltung der Transformation nur in den Bereichen mit starken Gewerkschaften und starker Mitbestimmung. In den tarif- und mitbestimmungsfreien Zonen des Arbeitsmarkts muss die Sozialpartnerschaft durch eine Erhöhung der Tarifbindung erst wieder Fuß fassen. Das wichtigste Instrument dazu, die Allgemeinverbindlichkeitserklärung, wird jedoch von den Arbeitgebern blockiert. Ob sich über das angekündigte Tariftreuegesetz hinaus für weitergehende Lösungen eine politische Mehrheit finden lässt, ist gegenwärtig nicht absehbar. Die Transformation und die Digitalisierung waren Auslöser wichtiger Reformen in der Tarif- und Betriebspolitik und auch der staatlichen Politik im Bereich der Arbeitsmarktpolitik und der Auftragsvergabe. Sie lieferten die „Erzählung“ für die Notwendigkeit einer neuen Politikagenda mit einer starken Beteiligung der Sozialpartner.
Suggested Citation
Gerhard Bosch, 2023.
"Revitalisierung der Sozialpartnerschaft in der Transformation,"
Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 92(4), pages 49-62.
Handle:
RePEc:diw:diwvjh:92-4-5
DOI: 10.3790/vjh.2023.334386
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Keywords
Industrielle Beziehungen;
Tarifverhandlungen;
Sozialpartnerschaft;
Löhne;
Weiterbildung;
All these keywords.
JEL classification:
- J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
- J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
- J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation
- J53 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Labor-Management Relations; Industrial Jurisprudence
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