IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/indrel/v52y2021i6p502-527.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

When are European Works Councils informed and consulted, and how do they gain influence? A quantitative analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Stan De Spiegelaere

Abstract

The objective of European Works Councils (EWCs) is to provide employees in multinational companies with information on transnational issues, and with the opportunity to voice their opinions, in order to influence managerial decision‐making. Few, however, reach that goal. This article therefore asks the question: Why? What factors explain whether or not an EWC is able to reach its goals? Building on previously established models and using large‐scale survey analysis, this article largely confirms the importance of factors related to management structure and policy, employee‐side organisation and interaction with management. As several of the main determinants relate directly or indirectly to managerial agency, the study discusses alternative ways to improve EWC functioning by focusing on the role of management.

Suggested Citation

  • Stan De Spiegelaere, 2021. "When are European Works Councils informed and consulted, and how do they gain influence? A quantitative analysis," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(6), pages 502-527, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:52:y:2021:i:6:p:502-527
    DOI: 10.1111/irj.12350
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/irj.12350
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/irj.12350?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul Marginson & Mark Hall & Aline Hoffmann & Torsten Müller, 2004. "The Impact of European Works Councils on Management Decision‐Making in UK and US‐based Multinationals: A Case Study Comparison," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 42(2), pages 209-233, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sophie Rosenbohm & Jennifer Kuebart, 2022. "Can access to company boards improve transnational employee representation? Insights from employee representation in European Companies," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 28(4), pages 423-440, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Markus Hertwig, 2016. "Widening the lens: a structuration theory perspective on European works councils and transnational labour relations," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(5-6), pages 473-491, November.
    2. Tony Edwards & Paul Marginson & Anthony Ferner, 2013. "Multinational Companies in Cross-National Context: Integration, Differentiation, and the Interactions between MNCS and Nation States," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(3), pages 547-587, May.
    3. Jan Zápal, 2007. "The Relation Between the Cyclically Adjusted Budget Balance and the Growth Accounting Method of Deriving Net Fiscal Effort," Czech Economic Review, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, vol. 1(3), pages 324-334, November.
    4. Chul Chung & Masayuki Furusawa, 2015. "The HRM of Foreign MNCs Operating in Europe," John H Dunning Centre for International Business Discussion Papers jhd-dp2015-04, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    5. Aristea Koukiadaki, 2010. "The establishment and operation of information and consultation of employees’ arrangements in a capability-based framework," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 31(3), pages 365-388, August.
    6. repec:ilo:ilowps:433128 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Veronika Dehnen, 2013. "Across Boundaries: The Global Challenges Facing Workers and Employment Research 50th Anniversary Special Issue," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(3), pages 577-600, September.
    8. Paul Marginson & Jonathan Lavelle & Javier Quintanilla & Duncan Adam & Rocío Sánchez-Mangas, 2013. "Variation in Approaches to European Works Councils in Multinational Companies," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(3), pages 618-644, May.
    9. Witzak, Patrick, 2016. "Theoretische Ansätze in der Eurobetriebsratforschung," Duisburger Beiträge zur soziologischen Forschung 2016-02, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute of Sociology.
    10. Mohrenweiser, Jens, 2022. "Works Councils," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1103, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    11. Magdalena Bernaciak & Aleksandra Lis, 2017. "Weak Labour, Strong Interests: Polish Trade Unions and the Integration of EU Energy and Service Markets," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 432-448, May.
    12. Vincent Pasquier & Rémi Bourguignon & Géraldine Schmidt, 2020. "La négociation des Plans de Sauvegarde de l'Emploi, quels arbitrages ?," Working Papers hal-03045537, HAL.
    13. John F. Geary, 2022. "Securing collective representation in non‐union European multinational companies: The case of Ryanair pilots’ (partial) success," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(3), pages 635-661, September.
    14. repec:ilo:ilowps:453417 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Haipeter, Thomas. & Lehndorff, Steffen., 2009. "Collective bargaining on employment," ILO Working Papers 994331283402676, International Labour Organization.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:52:y:2021:i:6:p:502-527. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0019-8692 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.