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Betriebsrat

works council

noun be-TREEPS-raht Rare
People & Society Work

Usage Note

Betriebsrat is the elected works council representing employees within a company, a pillar of German Mitbestimmung (codetermination). It can mean both the body and an individual member. Combining Betrieb (firm) and Rat (council), the plural takes umlaut: Betriebsräte.

Examples

"Der Betriebsrat verhandelte über flexiblere Arbeitszeiten."

Natural Translation

The works council negotiated for more flexible working hours.

Literal Translation

The works-council negotiated over more-flexible working-times.

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