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The big German companies invite the unions in because they are a source of innovation too. And managing the connection between the people who actually build the cars and the people who design/plan them is important.

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big german companies do it because they are required to by law.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_representation_on_corpo...

This is interesting. I sat next to a German manager of DaimlerChrysler (which really dates me, I know) on a flight. He agreed with the idea of worker unions being inside the company and having a seat at the table. He also disliked the practice of building cars "offshore" because, he said "the knowledge of building the car leaves the country".

Nonetheless, they don't let them on the board out of any self interest aside from following the law.

The designers are also unionized

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