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The Curse of Institutional Security - The Erosion of German Trade Unionism

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  • Anke Hassel

Abstract

Among all EU member states, German unions have the widest gap between male and female trade union density rates and are least adjusted to the structural changes stemming from the rise of the service sector on the labour market. This development asks for a more subtle understanding of the role of industrial relations institutions for trade union membership. The paper addresses the phenomenon by locating the main problem areas of membership erosion, such as weak service sector membership and the ageing of membership in manufacturing trade unions. It argues that industrial relations institutions have a double effect. Industry unionism is on the one hand a key pillar for centralized bargaining and institutional stability. On the other hand, stable institutional structures might have contributed to the membership decline.

Suggested Citation

  • Anke Hassel, 2007. "The Curse of Institutional Security - The Erosion of German Trade Unionism," Industrielle Beziehungen - Zeitschrift fuer Arbeit, Organisation und Management - The German Journal of Industrial Relations, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 14(2), pages 176-191.
    • Handle: RePEc:rai:indbez:doi_10.1688/1862-0035_indb_2007_02_hassel
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Schnabel Claus & Wagner Joachim, 2008. "The Aging of the Unions in West Germany, 1980–2006," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 228(5-6), pages 497-511, October.
    2. Fitzenberger Bernd & Sommerfeld Katrin, 2016. "A Sequential Decomposition of the Drop in Collective Bargaining Coverage," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 236(1), pages 37-69, February.
    3. Freye, Saskia, 2010. "Germany's new top managers? The corporate elite in flux, 1960 - 2005," MPIfG Discussion Paper 10/10, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    4. Aurora Trif & Imre G Szabó, 2023. "Where to find power resources under a hostile government? The prospects for trade union revitalization after the loss of institutional resources in Hungary and Romania," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(1), pages 25-42, March.
    5. Anke Hassel, 2011. "The paradox of liberalization – Understanding dualism and the recovery of the German political economy," LEQS – LSE 'Europe in Question' Discussion Paper Series 42, European Institute, LSE.
    6. Hassel, Anke, 2011. "The paradox of liberalization – understanding dualism and the recovery of the German political economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 53212, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Valeria Pulignano & Guglielmo Meardi & Nadja Doerflinger, 2015. "Trade unions and labour market dualisation: a comparison of policies and attitudes towards agency and migrant workers in Germany and Belgium," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 29(5), pages 808-825, October.
    8. Jan Czarzasty & Katarzyna Gajewska & Adam Mrozowicki, 2014. "Institutions and Strategies: Trends and Obstacles to Recruiting Workers into Trade Unions in Poland," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(1), pages 112-135, March.
    9. Rebecca Kolins Givan & Adrienne E. Eaton, 2021. "Mobilizing to Win in Europe: Change to Win and the Diffusion of Union Strategy," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(3), pages 617-642, September.
    10. Hyman, Richard & Gumbrell-McCormick, Rebecca, 2017. "Resisting labour market insecurity: old and new actors, rivals or allies?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 84658, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Arthur Corazza, 2020. "Power, interest and insecurity: A comparative analysis of workplace dualization and inclusion in Europe," LEQS – LSE 'Europe in Question' Discussion Paper Series 153, European Institute, LSE.
    12. Heather Connolly & Stefania Marino & Miguel Martinez Lucio, 2017. "‘Justice for Janitors’ goes Dutch: the limits and possibilities of unions’ adoption of organizing in a context of regulated social partnership," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(2), pages 319-335, April.
    13. Anke Hassel, 2011. "The paradox of liberalization – Understanding dualism and the recovery of the German political economy," Europe in Question Discussion Paper Series of the London School of Economics (LEQs) 2, London School of Economics / European Institute.
    14. Maria Kranendonk & Paul Beer, 2016. "What Explains the Union Membership Gap between Migrants and Natives?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 846-869, December.
    15. Guglielmo Meardi & Melanie Simms & Duncan Adam, 2021. "Trade unions and precariat in Europe: Representative claims," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 27(1), pages 41-58, March.
    16. Hyman, Richard, 2018. "What future for industrial relations in Europe?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 89229, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    17. Marta Kahancová & Monika Martišková, 2023. "Strengthening legislation, weakening collective bargaining? Two faces of trade union strategies in Czechia and Slovakia," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(1), pages 63-81, March.
    18. Lowell Turner, 2009. "Institutions and Activism: Crisis and Opportunity for a German Labor Movement in Decline," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(3), pages 294-312, April.
    19. Magdalena Bernaciak & Aurora Trif, 2023. "Multiple strategies but small gains: Trade union revitalization and power resources in Central Eastern Europe after 2008," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(1), pages 83-102, March.
    20. Anke Hassel, 2014. "The Paradox of Liberalization — Understanding Dualism and the Recovery of the German Political Economy," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(1), pages 57-81, March.
    21. Lisa Dorigatti, 2014. "Organizzare i non organizzati," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(1), pages 129-141.
    22. Richard Hyman, 2017. "Book review symposium: Colin Crouch, Governing Social Risks in Post-Crisis Europe by Richard Hyman," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(2), pages 367-370, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade Unions; Membership; Institutional Theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • 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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