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Crisis-related collective bargaining and its effects on different contractual groups of workers in German and Belgian workplaces

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  • Nadja Doerflinger
  • Valeria Pulignano

Abstract

This article investigates the effects of crisis-related collective bargaining on different contractual groups of workers. Comparing four workplaces of two multinationals in Germany and Belgium in the recent economic crisis, the authors observe that Belgian unions could protect some temporary workers’ jobs and when the crisis endured, the jobs and working conditions of the permanent workforces. In contrast, temporary jobs in the German workplaces were not protected and later on, the works councils had to concede on the permanent workers’ working conditions to safeguard their jobs. This is explained by the intersection of institutional and firm-level differences which interacted to offer (or not) resources to unions to enforce protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadja Doerflinger & Valeria Pulignano, 2018. "Crisis-related collective bargaining and its effects on different contractual groups of workers in German and Belgian workplaces," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 39(1), pages 131-150, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:39:y:2018:i:1:p:131-150
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X15609117
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Stefania Marino & Magdalena Bernaciak & Adam Mrozowicki & Valeria Pulignano, 2019. "Unions for whom? Union democracy and precarious workers in Poland and Italy," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 40(1), pages 111-131, February.

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