Stabilizing effects of European Works Councils: Examples from the automotive industry

This article presents a theoretical model in order to understand and explain forms of cross-border interest representation by European Works Councils. It argues that both their structures and activities and their outcomes can be explained by drawing on four theoretical rationales: the structures and coordination patterns of the company concerned, cultural-institutional factors linked to the ‘country-of-origin effect’, historical trajectories and actors’ strategies. This argument is supported by empirical data from case study research in three automotive assembly companies.