Timming2010

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Timming2010
BibType ARTICLE
Key Timming2010
Author(s) Andrew R. Timming
Title Dissonant cognitions in European works councils: a 'comparative ethnomethodological' approach
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, comparative industrial relations, employee voice, European works councils
Publisher
Year 2010
Language
City
Month
Journal Economic and Industrial Democracy
Volume 31
Number 4
Pages 521–535
URL Link
DOI 10.1177/0143831X10365928
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Drawing from case study research conducted at a UK-based European works council, this article explores the dynamics of cross-national labour relations using a theoretical framework that the author calls ‘comparative ethnomethodology’. The merging of qualitatively distinct national industrial relations systems into one geographical space is identified as a key social psychological obstacle to labour internationalism. When brought together in a transnational context, workers’ representatives frequently suffer from ‘dissonant cognitions’ in consequence of the absence of commonly constituted ‘background assumptions’. This dynamic is exemplified by the interpersonal relations between the British and Dutch delegations in the case study European works council. The study has implications with respect to the debates on the problems, prospects and possibilities of labour internationalism.

Notes