Voluntary Cooperation Between NGOs and Corporations From the Perspective of German Trade Unions

A Micropolitical Analysis

authored by

Florian Krause, Axel Haunschild

Abstract

The article gives a micropolitical analysis of the position of German trade unions on voluntary agreements between nongovernmental organisation (NGOs) and corporations, mostly subsumed under the label CSR (corporate social responsibility). In the German system of industrial relations, trade unions have a hybrid character: On the one hand, they are part of the company through their members and especially through unionised works councils and share similar goals with the company. On the other hand, trade unions also merge political positions of society, keep an eye on companies’ actions, and share similar goals with NGOs. The micropolitical analysis of their positions towards voluntary agreements as well as their interaction raises general questions on how cooperation between firms and NGOs can secure decent working conditions and environmental protection.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior
Centre for Continuing Education in Industrial Science

Type

Article

Journal

Organization and Environment

Volume

31

Pages

95-112

No. of pages

18

ISSN

1086-0266

Publication date

2018

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026617705110 (Access: Closed)