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Institutional Change and the Restructuring of Service Work in the French and German Telecommunications Industries

Author

Listed:
  • Virginia Doellgast

    (LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • Hiroatsu Nohara

    (LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Robert Tchobanian

    (LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This study analyses recent changes in collective bargaining institutions and their implications for employer strategies in the French and German telecommunications industries, drawing on case studies and survey data from call centre workplaces. Findings demonstrate that differences in both formal institutions and past logics of action influenced actor responses to changing markets and ownership structures. French trade unions were more successful in establishing encompassing bargaining structures and reducing pressures for pay differentiation, due to state support for the mandatory extension of agreements and unions' strategic focus on centralizing bargaining. In contrast, bargaining in Germany has become increasingly fragmented and decentralized as unions and works councils focused on company-level bargaining at major employers. This focus allowed worker representatives to preserve their strong influence over employment practices in core workplaces but has contributed to declining bargaining coverage and growing wage inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Virginia Doellgast & Hiroatsu Nohara & Robert Tchobanian, 2009. "Institutional Change and the Restructuring of Service Work in the French and German Telecommunications Industries," Post-Print halshs-00440252, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00440252
    DOI: 10.1177/0959680109344367
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Kornelakis, 2016. "Inclusion or Dualization? The Political Economy of Employment Relations in Italian and Greek Telecommunications," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(2), pages 385-408, June.
    2. Parakandi, Mohammed & Behery, Mohamed, 2016. "Sustainable human resources: Examining the status of organizational work–life balance practices in the United Arab Emirates," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1370-1379.
    3. Laura Carver & Virginia Doellgast, 2021. "Dualism or solidarity? Conditions for union success in regulating precarious work," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 27(4), pages 367-385, December.
    4. Ian Greer & Marco Hauptmeier, 2012. "Identity Work: Sustaining Transnational Collective Action at General Motors Europe," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 275-299, April.

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