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AFAIK German unions are very diverse and workers can pick and choose which one they want to join, vs the US where it's typically a 1:1 relationship between work

AFAIK German unions are very diverse and workers can pick and choose which one they want to join, vs the US where it's typically a 1:1 relationship between workplace and union.

hef19898 4y ago
Generally, yes. Detauls a bit more complex so. There are industry specific unions for employees, e.g. IG Metall for everything electronics and hardware or Verdi for public services (covering a staggering amount of jobs). On the othet side of the table you have associations of employers for the same industries. This makes, overall, negotiations straight forward, unions negotiate with employer associations and the results are then adopted, with regional modifications, acroos Germany. Of course employers are free to quit thosr associations, there are also dedicated agreements betweens unions and specific employers, usually covering things like extended working hours and so. And we have specialized unions, e.g. Cockpit for pilots or the equivalant for train conductors. The latter is funny, because there is more than one union representing those at DB. On a more general note, all employees benefit from the conditions negotiated between employers and unions (if there are any that is), regardless of union memebership. Legally, unions obly negotiate for members, technically rmployers don't make a difference. All that of course up to a certain salary sealing, everything above is outside union territory.
arlcode 4y ago
At the core of the German labor participation system lies the works council which is an (employee) elected board that represents them on a factory/office level (varies). Large companies also elect a company wide works council which in the case of publicly listed companies is part of the board. (50% of the votes with a shareholder friendly tie breaking mechanism). Works councils are traditionally dominated by unions but not always and there isn't a membership requirement to be represented. Unions offer industry sector wide representation and also negotiate collective agreements that companies agree to (more or less) willingly and of course they coordinate strikes if need be.

AFAIK German unions are very diverse and workers can pick and choose which one they want to join, vs the US where it's typically a 1:1 relationship between workplace and union.

hef19898 4y ago

Generally, yes. Detauls a bit more complex so. There are industry specific unions for employees, e.g. IG Metall for everything electronics and hardware or Verdi for public services (covering a staggering amount of jobs). On the othet side of the table you have associations of employers for the same industries. This makes, overall, negotiations straight forward, unions negotiate with employer associations and the results are then adopted, with regional modifications, acroos Germany. Of course employers are free to quit thosr associations, there are also dedicated agreements betweens unions and specific employers, usually covering things like extended working hours and so. And we have specialized unions, e.g. Cockpit for pilots or the equivalant for train conductors. The latter is funny, because there is more than one union representing those at DB. On a more general note, all employees benefit from the conditions negotiated between employers and unions (if there are any that is), regardless of union memebership. Legally, unions obly negotiate for members, technically rmployers don't make a difference. All that of course up to a certain salary sealing, everything above is outside union territory.

arlcode 4y ago

At the core of the German labor participation system lies the works council which is an (employee) elected board that represents them on a factory/office level (varies). Large companies also elect a company wide works council which in the case of publicly listed companies is part of the board. (50% of the votes with a shareholder friendly tie breaking mechanism). Works councils are traditionally dominated by unions but not always and there isn't a membership requirement to be represented. Unions offer industry sector wide representation and also negotiate collective agreements that companies agree to (more or less) willingly and of course they coordinate strikes if need be.