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Unions in Germany: Regaining the Initiative?

WSI Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Germany, Martin-Behrens{at}boeckler.de

Michael Fichter

Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, mfichter{at}zedat.fu-berlin.de

Carola M. Frege

Rutgers University, USA and the London School of Economics, UK, cmfrege{at}rci.rutgers.edu

This article analyses union strategies in six different arenas. It argues that although German unions pursue a wide range of projects and activities, these do not constitute a focused strategy for revitalization. While the breadth of activities is impressive, there is no strategic priority; nor have unions developed a coherent strategy which would combine the strengths of the different approaches pursued within the six arenas. An important part of the explanation for this shortcoming lies in a growing imbalance between the unions' capacity for autonomous action and their embeddedness in an extensive array of institutional arrangements.

European Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol. 9, No. 1, 25-42 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0959680103009001449


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