Description:
One element of the future of the trade unions is the recognition of the differentiation of the labour force and the need for differentiated bargaining agendas. However, putting new items on the agenda is not enough to attract categories of workers which are now generally underrepresented such as young workers, women and workers in the private service sectors. In addition, the form of collective agreements should facilitate a differentiated implementation through democratic participation and individual autonomy.for the workers involved. The article illustrates the need for this type of flexible unionism on the basis of empirical studies of white-collar workers and workers in the commercial service sectors. Since differentiation may be felt to call into question traditional union understandings of solidarity, this topic will be reflected on in the concluding section of this article.