Trade Unions and New Member State Workers in Germany and the United Kingdom

Abstract

This article compares German and British trade union responses in a European context following theEuropean enlargements in 2004 and 2007 that are unprecedented in the history of the European Union(EU). In particular, this article examines two case studies to explore how trade unions have responded toincreased migration following the enlargements. Increased migration has created a number of problems fortrade unions that are examined in the case studies. The fi ndings of the case studies are used to undertakea contextualized comparison of trade union behaviour in responding to the changing regulatory andopportunity structures that present themselves following the enlargements. Account is taken of the rolethat trade unions adopt within their national legal systems, as well as of the effects of the EU's policyof Europeanization on national trade unions. This article concludes by elaborating a number of recommendationsbased on the analysis.