La Racionalización post-taylorista y las investigaciones de trabajo en la sociología alemana del trabajo desde la mitad de la década de los noventa

Abstract

German sociology of labour gives insight into the present changing of organisation in German
industry, that is taking place under the leading ideas of ean production. As the workers on
the shop-floor are concerned, the existence of a strikingy unequal distribution of important
characteristics of the working situations becomes clear. Although noticeable groups of employees
can be considered winners of restructuring, for the majority of low-tech workers group work has
not changed their unfavourable working conditions much. Although working conditions could
be substantially improved through self-organised group-work, its extensive spread would require
a strong political commitment by companies and labour representatives. A developement like
this can at present apparently be found only in very few companies. This is due to stiff competition
within the world market, causing high cost pressure to the companies; high unemployment
also severely weakens the bargaining power of employees and their labour representatives.