Betriebsrat

The workers have always remained the most hardworking yet mostly neglected factor in the organization. This stratum has never got its deserving share in the success of the company being the foundation stone in achieving the success. Every management theory, every profit making principle can have no meaning if this layer is not functional properly. Initially, the business houses only emphasized on the other factors other than this vital element. Their well being and interests were sidelined. But some of the companies realized their plight and importance of forming some organization within the company itself which will safeguard their rights and interests. This way the trade unions or labor unions came into existence. This is a broader definition of a trade union. They came into existence after industrial revolution in England. The workers were working for almost 12 to 16 hours a day on the wages stipulated by the owner. This obviously agitated them. This led to formation of an institution within the organization for taking care of their rights.

Trade unions are not only restricted to England, but it spread its wings around the world and this inspired the foundation of Betriebsrat in Austria, Germany etc. trade unions have been very useful in America as well. The functions of Betriebsrat and trade unions are almost equal. They unite on the platform of safeguarding the rights and interests of workers as well as they take firm actions to achieve their goals. These institutions carry out similar kind of duties for the workers. They provide benefits to the members such as insuring them against the unemployment, old age expenses; they offer negotiation services for determining the wages, which is called collective bargaining. They may also help and guide the workers to carry out strikes for a certain cause, which may benefit the workers. In addition they may be politically active by joining hands with various other parties and form a political party. Betriebsrat also performs similar functions for the employees and workers.

Just like any other workers’ welfare association Betriebsrat also puts in efforts to improve the working conditions at the workplace and living standards of workers. They put in efforts to do so by negotiating with the management on behalf of the employees. Their basic aim is to improve overall conditions of all the workers. They do not consider any individual interests; rather they take care of the entire group and follow measures accordingly.