Industrial Relations in Germany – Dynamics and Perspectives

Abstract

The Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) is trade-union related academic research institute� Since its foundation in 1946, the focus of the WSI has been on the improvement of life chances, social justice and fair working and living conditions� In 1995 it became part of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, a non-profit foundation of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), fostering co-determination, promoting research and supporting students� Based on sound academic analysis, the researchers of the WSI elaborate policy proposals aimed at overcoming labour market restrictions and social problems to the benefit of employees� The main fields of research of the WSI are social and labour market policy, gender studies with a focus on job inequalities and industrial and labour relations� The WSI Collective Agreement Archive is the major German information centre on developments of collectively-agreed pay and conditions� Research on Germany is complemented by active participation of scholars in international networks investigating social and labour market policies, working conditions and industrial relations at the European and global level� With this special English edition of its academic journal WSI-Mitteilungen, the WSI revisits a theme it had previously explored in a special issue on the occasion of the 2003 IIRA World Congress in Berlin� Under the title Industrial Relations in Germany – an Empirical Survey, the 2003 issue focused on the state of works councils and multi-employer collective bargaining ; the core institutional pillars which have shaped the dual system of German industrial relations� Back in 2003 the WSI was concerned with the simultaneous decline of membership in both employers’ associations and trade unions and the risks of a slow but steady erosion of collective bargaining� The institute nevertheless remained confident about the stability and flexibility of the German system of labour relations although it stressed the necessity for stabilisation measures to be taken by the bargaining parties and the government� In 2019 it is apparent that since 2003 labour relations in Germany have undergone a turbulent history� It is the aim of this special issue to contribute towards improving our