Politics and the Organization of Work in France and the Federal Republic of Germany: A Comparison

This study sets out the political and economic background to the governmental activities which, in both countries and in conjunction with both entrepreneurs and trade unions, were brought into action during the 1970s to improve the organization of work. The problems that confront the representatives of the various interests as a result of these measures for the organization of work both at, and above, the level of the individual plant are discussed in detail: namely, the narrowness of the possibilities of exerting influence; the effects of increasing legislative regulation; the lack of competence in judging technological changes and their social effects; the ambivalence of corporate inclusion brought about by governmental measures. The lack of grass-roots democratic coupling of trade union work to the 'interests of the workers themselves, which is discernible in both countries has been remedied at least, formally in France. The employees' right of direct say concerning their working conditions, which was introduced by the Auroux Laws of 1982, offers the chance of a more participatory organization of work.