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Looking back on LABOR.A 2025

2025-10-16

What works council members need to know

"This year, LABOR.A addressed numerous facets of the topic of justice. The discussions ranged from new organisational models in large companies to educational opportunities and the working hours of cleaning staff." A comprehensive follow-up report can be found on the website of the Hans Böckler Foundation: https://www.boeckler.de/de/tagungsberichte-18029-dem-ungerechten-kapitalismus-viel-entgegengesetzt-72132.htm

Authors Fabienne Melzer and Andreas Schulte dedicate the section ‘Works council members: What they need to know’ to the presentation by the center of cooperation RUB/IGM Office at LABOR.A:

"In the QuBA³ study, the center of cooperation RUB/IGM from the Ruhr University Bochum investigated the role that works council training plays for strong co-determination in the workplace. To this end, 4,400 representatives were surveyed. A panel examined the results in greater depth.

Gerechtigkeit Labora
© Gerngross + Glowinski

What works council members need to know

"This year, LABOR.A addressed numerous facets of the topic of justice. The discussions ranged from new organisational models in large companies to educational opportunities and the working hours of cleaning staff." A comprehensive follow-up report can be found on the website of the Hans Böckler Foundation: https://www.boeckler.de/de/tagungsberichte-18029-dem-ungerechten-kapitalismus-viel-entgegengesetzt-72132.htm

Authors Fabienne Melzer and Andreas Schulte dedicate the section ‘Works council members: What they need to know’ to the presentation by the center of cooperation RUB/IGM Office at LABOR.A:

"In the QuBA³ study, the center of cooperation RUB/IGM from the Ruhr University Bochum investigated the role that works council training plays for strong co-determination in the workplace. To this end, 4,400 representatives were surveyed. A panel examined the results in greater depth.


Gesichter Labora
Lupe
© Gerngross + Glowinski

One is that works council members who undergo further training can perform their roles more effectively. The study also examined the areas in which works councils see a need for further training. The top issue is labour law. Personnel issues also play an important role, according to researcher Fabian Hoose from the Centre of Cooperation.

The survey also ties in with the Labora's key theme of fairness. This is because women are disadvantaged when it comes to further training. Due to time constraints, they participate less frequently.

Oliver Venzke from the IGBCE's Competence Centre for Education emphasised that, in principle, more basic knowledge should be taught than in the previous period. ‘The knowledge of works councils has declined. Much of it is only acquired when it is needed."