German and British Trade Unions: Problems and opportunities after enlargement

Abstract

This paper examines and compares German and British trade union responses in a European context following the recent European enlargements in 2004 and 2007, enlargements that are unprecedented in the history of the European Union. In particular, the paper undertakes a contextualized comparison of trade union behaviour in responding to the changing regulatory and opportunity structures which present themselves following the enlargements. Account is taken of the role that trade unions adopt within their national legal systems as well as of the effects of the European Union’s policy of Europeanisation on national trade unions.