Servant of Three Masters? Comparing competing demands of representation, integration and solidarity: Dutch vis-à-vis German works councils

Abstract

Comparing the Netherlands and Germany, and building on different theoretical perspectives on cooperation, we analyse whether works councils are able to accommodate and reconcile the competing demands of representation (relationship to the workforce), integration (relationship to management) and solidarity (relations to the union), or whether varying geometries of interest lead works councils to prefer one of those three demands. The analysis of an online-survey of 1,776 works councillors reveals differences and similarities between the two countries. Despite very similar institutional settings, multivariate statistical analysis shows that works councils differ in the priorities they set when choosing a preferred partner. German worker representatives feel close to the unions and workforce alike, while their Dutch counterparts maintain comparatively close relations to management. Nevertheless, we see many similarities as well. So, despite different historical trajectories and differences in regulatory detail, works councils have much in common in both countries, which suggests that they have a systematic impact on how employee voice materialises on the ground.