Europe's workplace revolution
Despite their protests, Germany's workers are starting to accept that they may have to work longer hours. Will their French counterparts be next?
“A VICTORY for common sense,” was how Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, greeted DaimlerChrysler's deal last week with employees at the Mercedes car plants in southern Germany. Workers agreed to receive lower pay in future, with longer working hours for some, in return for keeping their jobs until 2012. Because of union-led industrial action, this was not quite what Daimler had sought—a move to a 40-hour week, which Siemens, another big company, had won shortly before. Nonetheless, it was indeed further significant evidence of an outbreak of common sense among German workers. And about time too. German firms desperately need some labour market flexibility if their domestic operations are to remain at all competitive.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Europe's workplace revolution”
From the July 31st 2004 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDiscover more
Could seaweed replace plastic packaging?
Companies are experimenting with new ways to reduce plastic waste
Has Sequoia Capital outgrown its business model?
Venture capital’s hardiest perennial gets back to its roots
On stupid rules and quick wins
Why every boss can benefit from asking employees what most infuriates them
TikTok wants Western consumers to shop like the Chinese
It still has some convincing to do
Will the trouble ever end for Volkswagen and its rivals?
From strikes to Trump tariffs, calamities abound
After Northvolt’s failure, who will make Europe’s EV batteries?
The continent looks ever more reliant on Asian producers