Employee Representation in Multinational Companies : The Articulation of Interests in Multilevel Action Fields

Investigating the issue of employee representation in multinational companies (MNCs), this book sets out to systematically conceptualise the modes of articulation between different action fields. While previous studies have focused on forms of employee representation that have emerged throughout recent decades, rather little is known about the interaction and coordination of representational bodies and actors, such as trade unions and European or World Works Councils. Given the growing importance of transnational restructuring in MNCs, understanding the conditions under which employees are able to participate in company decision-making is a crucial issue. Based on empirical case studies and interviews with employee representatives from ten countries across Europe, the authors investigate the role of representational bodies in periods of company restructuring. Proposing a shift in perspectives in research on transnational labour relations and bringing new insights into structures and practices of employee representation in MNCs, this book will be a valuable read for both scholars and practitioners. Preface 5 Contents 7 List of Figures 9 List of Tables 10 1: Introduction: Transnational Interest Representation and the Articulation of Employee Interests 11 Multi-level Systems as an Action Problem for Transnational Employee Representation 11 Articulation and EWC Research 15 Interests, Identity, Culture, and Solidarity 20 Aim and Structure of This Study 23 References 25 2: Articulation, Structuration, and Action Fields: Theoretical Approaches 29 Employee Representation in a Multi-level System 29 Structuration and Action Fields 30 The Action Fields of Interest Representation 34 The Concept of Articulation 38 Elements of Articulation 43 Four Patterns of Articulation 45 References 52 3: Research Strategy and Design 56 Choosing the Case Studies 56 Interviews 61 Structures of International Bodies 66 Case-Study Descriptions 67 ‘Bank’ 67 ‘Cars’ 70 ‘Chemicals’ 73 ‘MedTech’ 75 ‘Postal Services’ 77 ‘Power’ 78 ‘Rubber’ 80 ‘Synthetic’ 81 ‘Transport’ 83 ‘Wholesale’ 85 References 86 4: Patterns of Articulation 87 Types of Articulation and the Case-Study Sample 87 Comprehensive Articulation 90 Objects of Articulation 90 Interest Articulation During Restructuring 92 ‘Cars’ 92 ‘Chemicals’ 95 ‘Power’ 98 Key Actors 101 Resources and Sources of Power 107 Interpretations and Interests 116 Summary 126 Fragmented Coordination 127 Objects of Articulation 127 Interest Articulation During Restructuring 128 ‘Synthetic’ 128 ‘Postal Services’ 134 ‘Transport’ 138 Key Actors 140 Resources and Sources of Power 144 Interpretations and Interests 147 Summary 149 International Integration 150 Objects of Articulation 150 Interest Articulation During Restructuring 152 ‘Rubber’ 152 ‘MedTech’ 155 ‘Bank’ 156 Key Actors 160 Resources and Sources of Power 166 Interpretations and Interests 170 Summary 176 Disarticulation 178 Objects of Articulation 178 Interest Articulation During Restructuring 179 Key Actors 181 Resources and Sources of Power 182 Interpretations and Interests 185 Summary 188 References 190 5: Varieties of Articulation: Interest Representation in Multinational Companies at National and Local Level 191 Introduction 191 The Diversity of Interest Representation 194 National and Local Interest Articulation in the Case-Study Companies 197 Employee Representation in Germany 200 Interest Representation Structures and Levels 200 Board-Level Employee Representation 205 Interest Representation in Other Home and Host Countries 209 Workplace and Trade Union Employee Representation 209 Levels of Employee Representation 211 Trade Union Pluralism 215 Differences in Resources 217 Feedback Effects of Transnational Employee Representation 219 Information 219 Regulations, Agreements, and Resources 223 Summary 228 References 230 6: Patterns of Articulation Between Transnational Workplace Employee Representatives and Trade Unions: Coordination and Trade Union Networks 233 Introduction 233 Trade Union Articulation Structures at the Case-Study Companies 236 Articulation by Trade Union Coordinators 238 Coordination by European Branch-Level Union Federations 243 Trade Union Networks 244 Trade Union Network at ‘Bank’ 244 Trade Union Network at ‘Cars’ 248 Summary 255 References 257 7: Articulation Practices in Comparison: Patterns, Conditions, and Outcomes of Employee Interest Representation 258 Forms of Coordination and Integration: Patterns of Articulation in Comparison 258 Forms of Coordination 260 Forms of Integration 265 Dimensions of Articulation 268 Key Actors 269 Power and Resources 272 Interpretations and Interests 276 Context and Conditions of Articulation 279 Articulation and Negotiation Practice: Outcomes of Employee Representation 284 Conclusion and Prospects 290 References 294 Index 296 Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction: Transnational Interest Representation and the Articulation of Employee Interests (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 1-18 Articulation, Structuration, and Action Fields: Theoretical Approaches (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 19-45 Research Strategy and Design (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 47-77 Patterns of Articulation (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 79-182 Varieties of Articulation: Interest Representation in Multinational Companies at National and Local Level (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 183-224 Patterns of Articulation Between Transnational Workplace Employee Representatives and Trade Unions: Coordination and Trade Union Networks (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 225-249 Articulation Practices in Comparison: Patterns, Conditions, and Outcomes of Employee Interest Representation (Thomas Haipeter, Markus Hertwig, Sophie Rosenbohm)....Pages 251-288 Back Matter ....Pages 289-294