Trade union membership in Eastern and Western Germany: convergence or divergence?

An empirical analysis of various waves of the ALLBUS social survey shows that the level and the structure of unionization has become more and more similar in eastern and western Germany in the period 1992 to 2000. The originally high level of union density in eastern Germany has dropped below that of western Germany, and union membership has been falling steadily in both parts of the country since 1992. Repeated cross-sectional analyses indicate that the factors influencing individuals probability of union membership have converged over time between western and eastern Germany. After an assimilation period of about ten years the same set of variables can be used to explain unionization in postsocialist eastern Germany and in traditionally capitalist western Germany. -- Eine empirische Analyse mehrerer Wellen der ALLBUS-Befragung zeigt, dass sich Ausmaß und Struktur der gewerkschaftlichen Mitgliedschaft in Ost- und Westdeutschland von 1992 bis 2000 zunehmend angeglichen haben. Der ursprünglich hohe Organisationsgrad in den neuen Ländern ist unter das Niveau in den alten gefallen, und die Mitgliederzahlen gehen in beiden Landesteilen seit 1992 zurück. Wiederholte Querschnittsanalysen deuten darauf hin, dass die Einflussfaktoren der Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Mitgliedschaft im Zeitverlauf zwischen West- und Ostdeutschland konvergiert sind. Nach einer Annäherungsperiode von rund zehn Jahren können jetzt die selben Variablen verwendet werden, um die gewerkschaftliche Organisierung im post-sozialistischen Ostdeutschland und im traditionell kapitalistischen Westdeutschland zu erklären.Union membership,union density,Germany

The Aging of the unions in West Germany, 1980-2006

Using data from the social survey ALLBUS for West Germany in the period 1980 to 2006, this paper demonstrates that union members are on average older than non-unionized employees. The probability of being unionized shows the inverted U-shaped pattern in age conjectured by Blanchflower (BJIR 2007) only in very few years. It is demonstrated that both intra-cohort change and cohort replacement effects have played a roughly equal role in the substantial fall in union density since 1980. If older cohorts with high densities continue to be replaced by young cohorts with low densities, average union density will fall further.union membership, union density, cohort effects, West Germany

Let's take bargaining models seriously: The decline in union power in Germany, 1992 - 2009

Building on the right-to-manage model of collective bargaining, this paper tries to infer union power from the observed results in wage setting. It derives a time-varying indicator of union strength and confronts it with annual data for Germany. The results show that union power was relatively stable in the 1990s but fell substantially (by almost one-third) from 1999 to 2007. Two-thirds of this fall in union power follow from the reduction in the labour share relative to the capital share whereas changes in the gap between the net wage and the income when unemployed account for the remaining third. -- Dieser Beitrag versucht unter Verwendung des right-to-manage-Modells kollektiver Verhandlungen aus den beobachteten Lohnabschlüssen auf die entsprechende Gewerkschaftsmacht zurückzuschließen. Wir leiten einen zeitvarianten Indikator gewerkschaftlicher Stärke her und berechnen ihn mit Jahresdaten für Deutschland. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Gewerkschaftsmacht in den 1990er Jahren relativ stabil war, aber von 1999 bis 2007 deutlich (um fast ein Drittel) zurückging. Zwei Drittel dieses Rückgangs der Gewerkschaftsmacht gehen auf eine Verringerung der Lohnquote relativ zur Kapitaleinkommensquote zurück, während Veränderungen im Abstand zwischen dem Nettolohn und dem Einkommen bei Arbeitslosigkeit für das restliche Drittel verantwortlich sind.trade union power,wage bargaining,labour share,Germany

Let's take bargaining models seriously: The decline in union power in Germany, 1992 - 2009

Building on the right-to-manage model of collective bargaining, this paper tries to infer union power from the observed results in wage setting. It derives a time-varying indicator of union strength and confronts it with annual data for Germany. The results show that union power was relatively stable in the 1990s but fell substantially (by almost one-third) from 1999 to 2007. Two-thirds of this fall in union power follow from the reduction in the labour share relative to the capital share whereas changes in the gap between the net wage and the income when unemployed account for the remaining third. -- Dieser Beitrag versucht unter Verwendung des right-tomanage-Modells kollektiver Verhandlungen aus den beobachteten Lohnabschlüssen auf die entsprechende Gewerkschaftsmacht zurückzuschließen. Wir leiten einen zeitvarianten Indikator gewerkschaftlicher Stäarke her und berechnen ihn mit Jahresdaten für Deutschland. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Gewerkschaftsmacht in den 1990er Jahren relativ stabil war, aber von 1999 bis 2007 deutlich (um fast ein Drittel) zurückging. Zwei Drittel dieses Rückgangs der Gewerkschaftsmacht gehen auf eine Verringerung der Lohnquote relativ zur Kapitaleinkommensquote zurück, während Veränderungen im Abstand zwischen dem Nettolohn und dem Einkommen bei Arbeitslosigkeit für das restliche Drittel verantwortlich sind.trade union power,wage bargaining,labour share,Germany

The persistent decline in unionization in western and eastern Germany, 1980-2004: What can we learn from a decomposition analysis?

An empirical analysis of various waves of the ALLBUS social survey shows that union density fell substantially in western Germany from 1980 to 2004 and in eastern Germany from 1992 to 2004. Such a negative trend can be observed for men and women and for different groups of the workforce. Regression estimates indicate that the probability of union membership is related to a number of personal and occupational variables such as age, public sector employment and being a blue collar worker (significant in western Germany only). A decomposition analysis shows that differences in union density over time and between eastern and western Germany to a large degree cannot be explained by differences in the charakteristics of employees. Contrary to wide-spread perceptions, changes in the composition of the workforce seem to have played a minor role in the fall in union density in western and eastern Germany.union membership, union density, Germany, decomposition

Let's Take Bargaining Models Seriously: The Decline in Union Power in Germany, 1992-2009

Building on the right-to-manage model of collective bargaining, this paper tries to infer union power from the observed results in wage setting. It derives a time-varying indicator of union strength and confronts it with annual data for Germany. The results show that union power was relatively stable in the 1990s but fell substantially (by almost one-third) from 1999 to 2007. Two-thirds of this fall in union power follow from the reduction in the labour share relative to the capital share whereas changes in the gap between the net wage and the income when unemployed account for the remaining third.trade union power, wage bargaining, labour share, Germany

The persistent decline in unionization in western and eastern Germany, 1980-2004 : What can we learn from a decomposition analysis?

An empirical analysis of various waves of the ALLBUS social survey shows that union density fell substantially in Germany from 1980 to 2004. Such a negative trend can be observed for men and women and for different groups of the workforce. Regression estimates indicate that the probability of union membership is related to a number of personal and occupational variables such as age, public sector employment and being a blue collar worker (significant in western Germany only). A decomposition analysis shows that differences in union density over time and between eastern and western Germany to a large degree cannot be explained by differences in the characteristics of employees. Contrary to wide-spread perceptions, changes in the composition of the workforce seem to have played a minor role in the fall in union density in western and eastern Germany. -- Eine empirische Analyse mehrerer Wellen der ALLBUS-Befragung zeigt, dass der gewerkschaftliche Organisationsgrad in Deutschland von 1980 bis 2004 deutlich zurückgegangen ist, und zwar bei Männern wie Frauen und in verschiedenen Arbeitnehmergruppen. Regressionsschätzungen deuten darauf hin, dass die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Mitgliedschaft in einer Gewerkschaft mit einer Reihe von persönlichen und beruflichen Merkmalen zusammenhängt wie Alter, Beschäftigung im öffentlichen Dienst und Arbeiter-Status (nur signifikant in Westdeutschland). Eine Zerlegung macht deutlich, dass Unterschiede im Organisationsgrad im Zeitablauf sowie zwischen West- und Ostdeutschland zum größten Teil nicht durch unterschiedliche Merkmale der Beschäftigten erklärt werden können. Veränderungen der Beschäftigtenstruktur scheinen demnach eine unerwartet geringe Rolle beim Rückgang des Organisationsgrades gespielt zu haben.union membership,union density,Germany,decomposition

Union Membership and Age: The inverted U-shape hypothesis under test

In this note we cast some doubt on the claim put forward by David Blanchflower (2007) that the probability of being unionized follows an inverted U-shaped pattern in age with a maximum in the mid- to late 40s. By using a special test for an inverted Ushaped pattern that has not been applied to the age-membership nexus before, and by constructing exact confidence intervals for the maximum value, we demonstrate that at least for West Germany Blanchflower’s hypothesis does not hold. Our findings suggest that more definitive evidence is needed before the existence of international unionization-age patterns can be taken for granted.unionization, age, inverted U-shape, Germany

Who are the workers who never joined a union? Empirical evidence from Germany

Using representative data from the German social survey ALLBUS 2002 and the European Social Survey 2002/03, this paper provides the first empirical analysis of trade union never-membership in Germany. We show that between 54 and 59 percent of all employees in Germany have never been members of a trade union. Individuals’ probability of never-membership is significantly affected by their personal characteristics (in particular age, education and status at work), their political orientation and (to a lesser degree) their family background, and by broad location. In addition, occupational and workplace characteristics play a significant role. Most important in this regard is the presence of a union at the workplace.union membership, never-membership, Germany

Who are the workers who never joined a union? Empirical evidence from Germany

Using representative data from the German social survey ALLBUS 2002 and the European Social Survey 2002/03, this paper provides the first empirical analysis of trade union never-membership in Germany. We show that between 54 and 59 percent of all employees in Germany have never been members of a trade union. Individuals? probability of never-membership is significantly affected by their personal characteristics (in particular age, education and status at work), their political orientation and (to a lesser degree) their family background, and by broad location. In addition, occupational and workplace characteristics play a significant role. Most important in this regard is the presence of a union at the workplace. -- Unter Verwendung von Daten des ALLBUS 2002 und des European Social Survey 2002/03 analysiert diese Arbeit erstmalig die Nie-Mitgliedschaft in deutschen Gewerkschaften. Wir zeigen, dass 54 bis 59 Prozent aller Beschäftigten in Deutschland niemals Mitglied einer Gewerkschaft waren. Die individuelle Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Nie-Mitgliedschaft hängt signifikant mit persönlichen Merkmalen (insbesondere Alter, Ausbildung und Arbeitsplatzstatus), der politischen Ausrichtung und (in geringerem Maße) dem familiären Hintergrund sowie mit dem Wohnsitz zusammen. Darüber hinaus spielen Charakteristika der Beschäftigung und des Arbeitsplatzes eine signifikante Rolle; besonders wichtig ist hierbei das Vorhandensein einer Gewerkschaft am Arbeitsplatz.union membership,never-membership,Germany