US multi-nationals and the German industrial relations system

Artikel

This paper critically reviews literature on the behaviour of US-based Multi National Companies (MNCs) in Germany in relation to the historic institutions of the German labour market: works councils and industry wide collective bargaining. The German system is becoming increasingly company-rather than sectorally centred, and US-based companies have reinforced a wing of German employer opinion seeking to further these developments. Surveys show US-based companies generally accepting works councils and sectoral bargains but case study evidence also shows them seeking to weaken links with parts of the system external to the company. A typology is proposed and it is argued that many US-based companies appear to follow a 'formal compliance/content avoidance dichotomy' tending to exacerbate the system's existing tendencies towards disarticulation. They also tend to explore all options available to them within the existing system. A research agenda is suggested.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Management Revue ; ISSN: 1861-9916 ; Volume: 16 ; Year: 2005 ; Issue: 1 ; Pages: 123-137 ; Mering: Rainer Hampp Verlag

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Management
• Subject: US Multinationals ; Germany ; industrial relations

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Singe, Ingo ; Croucher, Richard
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Rainer Hampp Verlag
• (where): Mering
• (when): 2005

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/78972
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET