Industrial relations dynamics and gender dynamics : A comparative study on the effectiveness of workplace unions in advocating for work-life balance and gender equality in Germany

Abstract

Despite challenges, workplace unions play a crucial role in advocating for progress in Work-Life Balance (WLB) and gender equality, leveraging opportunity structures to renew their bargaining agendas. This thesis examines union effectiveness by exploring how two sets of factors, IR dynamics (representation support, topic involvement, management relations, union experience) and gender dynamics (feminization of organization, feminization of union, gender of the union's president), influence unions' contributions to organizational progress in WLB and gender equality. Considering the lack of comparisons between Chile and Germany given their distinct IR regimes, this study aims to bridge this gap through a cross-case synthesis technique and binary logistic regressions. The empirical findings present mixed results, revealing no universal conclusion regarding the applicability of IR and gender dynamics. While core IR aspects in Germany and Chile empower unions to advocate for WLB, promoting gender equality demands a more nuanced approach. In Germany, effective union advocacy for gender equality relies on reliable management support, experience, and organizational feminization. Conversely, Chilean unions benefit from a facilitative relationship with management and a broader focus on contemporary topics like WLB. Thus, union effectiveness varies by country, underscoring the complexity to tailor union strategies to the unique national and issuebased contexts.