Collective bargaining and the gender wage gap : findings from a qualitative study

Abstract

"Empirical studies indicate that the gender wage gap is lower under collectively negotiated contracts than in firms not bound by such contracts. However, it remains an open question as to how the organisation and the process of collective negotiations affect the gender wage gap. To shed light on this question, we conducted interviews with collective bargaining experts from employers' organisations and trade unions in four different industries. Most respondents did not consider collective agreements as a possible source of wage differences between men and women. Consequently, they saw only limited potential to reduce the gender pay gap at the level of collective bargaining. According to the interviewees, however, women were often under-represented in decision-making and especially in negotiating committees. Some of the respondents believed that the existing wage structure penalises female-dominated occupations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Gärtner, D., Grimm, V., Lang, J. & Stephan, G. (2015): Kollektive Lohnverhandlungen und der Gender Wage Gap. Befunde aus einer qualitativen Studie. In: Industrielle Beziehungen, Vol. 22, No. 3/4, p. 260-281. DOI:10.1688/IndB-2015-03-Gaertner