Jochen Tholen Knihy

The position and situation of Russian managers was in the Soviet era, and still is today, determined by the social and political environment, to a greater degree than in the West. Whilst the economic conditions are the decisive parameter of action for managers in the West and the political level develops its effect on managerial decisions in a more mediating way, in Russia political decisions determine in a very direct way the structurally presented autonomy and the modes of behaviour of company managers that are imprinted with subjective factors.

The study presented in this book describes how and under what conditions dryports work efficiently as a complementary partner for seaports and as an option for future-oriented and sustainable logistics. The authors identify similarities and differences across four cases and suggest under which conditions dryports have a good chance to succeed.

Based on extensive field work (including interviews with trade unionists, members of works councils and management representatives) this book provides both a national and comparative assessment of European IR systems, focussing on the four major European economies of Germany, UK, Italy and France. Particular attention is given to the concept of 'Europeanisation', including the potential Europeanising of collective bargaining at plant and enterprise level; the development of Europe-wide employer and employee associations; the role of social dialogue; and the role of the European legislation process. Five detailed company cases are also provided, focussing on management decisions affecting employees in different countries and the role of European Works Councils in this context. The book concludes that the development of industrial relations in Europe has to be seen as a combination of sometimes contradictory European and national processes.