This article examines the challenges to trade unions related to workers’
participation in organizational renewal known as ‘sustainable
business’. It analyses how integrated management systems involving
occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental issues affect employee
participation. The analysis involves two case studies of enterprises that have
recently been modernized in terms of employing integrated management systems. Under
the general title of ‘Developing Workplaces’, the Danish
Confederation of Trade Unions has increased its commitment to sustainability, which
is used as the point of departure for conceptdriven organizational change. However,
the article concludes that the so-called ‘prime mover’ and
high-pro.le environmental and OHS enterprises do not suf.ciently take the interests
of employees into consideration.
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