Big time   10 #1 Posted October 14, 2011 (edited) Germany is in much better shape than Britain in many ways, always has been, they manufacture and export much more than we do, and as a country enjoy a general higher standard of living than we do in the UK, and It is mainly because the German working class and their unions and the capital class have a healthy constructive relationship, unlike here in Britain where our unions are so entrenched in their anti-capitalist ideology.  Perhaps if Britain's union movement had took a leaf out of Germany's book and took a more sensible approach, Britain would still be an industral, exporting nation. Edited October 14, 2011 by Big time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ricgem2002 Â Â 11 #2 Posted October 14, 2011 and maybe if the gov took a leaf out of germanies book we might even have jobs here .oh hang on didnt the tories sell our assets Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Big time   10 #3 Posted October 14, 2011 and maybe if the gov took a leaf out of germanies book we might even have jobs here .oh hang on didnt the tories sell our assets  As I see it the main reason there's no jobs here is over the years our silly volatile union movement has made this country into an unnatractive place to open a factory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ricgem2002 Â Â 11 #4 Posted October 14, 2011 As I see it the main reason there's no jobs here is over the years our silly volatile union movement has made this country into an unnatractive place to open a factory. nowt do do with the tories not seeling off our industries:huh: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
epiphany   10 #5 Posted October 14, 2011 Germany has a unique and holistic model of "co-determination" based on co-operative management law which we could learn a lot from. It involves the joint election of a supervisory board, the chairman of which holds stakeholdership and therefore a casting vote which is of key importance in strengthening co-operation between the workers and shareholders.  It is my belief that when workers have a more intrinsic (as in embedded in the organisational structure) democratic voice in the operation of the company, there is more of a sense of workers owning their labour and therefore less "outsider resentment".  Businesses that do not see the benefits of creating an environment whereby workers feel they are part of the company and not merely a rented tool of the company are short sighted and may they reap what they sow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
truman   10 #6 Posted October 14, 2011 nowt do do with the tories not seeling off our industries:huh:  Genuine question..are there lots of nationalised industries in Germany..? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Tony   10 #7 Posted October 14, 2011 and maybe if the gov took a leaf out of germanies book we might even have jobs here .oh hang on didnt the tories sell our assets  Which state owned German companies are you thinking of that are so much better than their former UK state owned equivalents? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ricgem2002 Â Â 11 #8 Posted October 14, 2011 Genuine question..are there lots of nationalised industries in Germany..? i dont know Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ricgem2002 Â Â 11 #9 Posted October 14, 2011 Which state owned German companies are you thinking of that are so much better than their former UK state owned equivalents? see post 9:hihi: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Tony   10 #10 Posted October 14, 2011 You have to admire a man for his honesty Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
truman   10 #11 Posted October 14, 2011 (edited) Many of the things that British unions fight for are part of the law in Germany, so perhaps it isn't the unions that need changing, perhaps it is the "capital class".  How did the unions affect the nationalised British Leyland car company do you think? Were they a force for good..? Edited October 14, 2011 by truman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
I1L2T3 Â Â 10 #12 Posted October 14, 2011 In Germany it's a basically harmonious two way union-employer relationship for mutual benefit. Â In the UK it's fundamentally adversarial. If you don't understand that you don't understand the problem. Or the solution which requires both sides to change their thinking not just unions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...