EMPLOYABILITY AND SECURITY IN A FLEXIBLE GLOBAL LABOUR MARKET Contents Contents i Executive summary iii Introduction: setting the scene for discussion 1 Current issues, challenges and opportunities 2 Trade unions must adapt to change or die 2 The changing work environment 3 What will the future bring? 3 Flexibility and security 5 New challenge from competition 5 People and work 7 Stress is a real and serious problem 7 Trade union attitudes in Germany and Britain: discussion 9 Rail guards illustrate the different approaches of German and British trade unions 9 No caricature please, we’re British 9 Individuals should be at the centre 10 Generalisation should be avoided 12 Encouraging young people 13 New patterns of employment and human resource management 14 British unions lack legal or regulatory support 14 German system must reform to meet challenges of new economy 15 The importance of transparency 17 Trust is needed on both sides 19 i © Anglo-German Foundation for the Study of Industrial Society