Formation, development and current state of industrial democracy in Germany
The article covers the history and development of German co determination (works councils and board level representation) The first section addresses the terminology of industrial democracy by comparing the different meanings in English and German industrial relations vocabulary. This is followed by a section on the history of the institutions of worker committees, works councils and board level representation in German industries, beginning from the first voluntary introduction of worker committees by social minded employers through the periods of the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic and on into post war Germany. A third section addresses the present role and functions of works councils, including their learning process by interaction with management and their symbiotic relationship with the trade unions, followed by a section on the differences and similarities between works councils and human resource management. The last section analyses the changes and current trends in the field of shop floor participation, works councils and board level representation.