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Company-level collective agreements during the 2008-2010 crisis: four cases from Germany

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  • Stefan Zagelmeyer

    (Professor of Human Resource Management, International University of Applied Sciences, Bad Honnef-Bonn, s.zagelmeyer@iubh.de)

Abstract

Between autumn 2008 and spring 2010, the German economy faced the most serious economic downturn since World War II. Demand, orders, output and profits declined in many sectors and for many companies at unprecedented rates. The German federal government, the state governments and the social partners have introduced and/or adapted a wide range of policy instruments to cope with the crisis. In addition to unilateral use by management of a wide range of policies to address the declining demand for products and labour, joint activities on the part of management, trade unions and/or works councils sought to address the situation through agreements on cost-cutting programmes. This article analyses four cases of company-level ‘concession’ bargaining during the peak time of the crisis (2009) in Germany and considers how the social partners might help enterprises to maintain employment in the face of a crisis situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Zagelmeyer, 2011. "Company-level collective agreements during the 2008-2010 crisis: four cases from Germany," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 17(3), pages 355-370, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:17:y:2011:i:3:p:355-370
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258911410798
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zagelmeyer, Stefan., 2010. "Company-level bargaining in times of crisis : the case of Germany," ILO Working Papers 994471933402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. Anke Hassel, 1999. "The Erosion of the German System of Industrial Relations," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 37(3), pages 483-505, September.
    3. repec:ilo:ilowps:447193 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Thomas Klikauer, 2002. "Stability in Germany’s Industrial Relations: A Critique on Hassel’s Erosion Thesis," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 40(2), pages 295-308, June.
    5. Anke Hassel, 2002. "The Erosion Continues: Reply," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 40(2), pages 309-317, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Valeria Pulignano & Paul Stewart, 2012. "The management of change. Local union responses to company-level restructuring in France and Ireland – a study between and within countries," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 18(4), pages 411-427, November.

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