[k__]

Often union members are elected into works councils.

It's basically like a government of the company and a union is just another party that can get elected.

[jwildeboer]

In the German IT world no. Unions are not needed for a works council. Our works council has 11 members of which one is a union member. 10 are not.

[k__]

Yes, I didn't mean they are required.

It's just that the only way a union member can get into a work council is getting elected just like every other employee.