Evaluating Union Organising in the United Kingdom
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Abstract
The paper evaluates the increasing focus on organizing activity within British trade union movement and its main purpose is to draw attention to the wider reasons why organizing is important. Contrary to a dominant the authors claim that organizing is more than simply recruiting members; it is about mobilizing members so that they have greater influence over their working lives. Outcomes of organizing campaigns can only be understood within a much broader evaluation of the purpose, strategies and context in which they take place. in the paper the authors evaluate the impact of the 'turn' to organizing in the United Kingdom trade union movement, especially after launching of the Organising Academy in 1998. While there are a lot of accomplishments resulting from organizing activities, they cannot overshadow less optimistic phenomena within the union movement such as stagnation in membership, failed attempts to reach new sectors of the economy, and worsening climate around organized labour since the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008.
Article Details
How to Cite
Simms, M., Holgate, J., & Heery, E. (2013). Evaluating Union Organising in the United Kingdom. Warsaw Forum of Economic Sociology, 4(7), 53–76. Retrieved from https://econjournals.sgh.waw.pl/wfes/article/view/478
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References
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Kirton, G., Healy, G., (2004), Shaping Union and Gender Identities: A Case Study of Women- Only Trade Union Courses, "British Journal of Industrial Relations" 42(2): 303-323
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Martinez L., Perret M., Perret, R., (2009), Meanings and Dilemmas in Community Unionism: Trade Union Community Initiatives and Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in the UK, "Work, Employment and Society" 23(4): 693-710
Moore, S., Bewley, H., (2004), The Content of New Voluntary Trade Union Recognition Agreements 1998-2002: Report of Preliminary Findings, Employment Relations Research Series no 26, London: Department of Trade and Industry
Parker, J., Douglas, J., (2010), The Role of Womens Groups in New Zealand, UK and Canadian Trade Unions in Addressing Intersectional Interests, "International Journal of Comparative Industrial Relations and Labour Law" 26(3): 295-319
Perrett, R., Lucio, M.M., (2009), Trade Unions and Relations with Black and Minority- Ethnic Community Groups in the United Kingdom: The Development of New Alliances?, "Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies" 35(8): 1295-1314
Portes, J., French, S., (2005), The Impact of Free Movement of Workers From Central and Eastern Europe on the UK Labour Market: Early Evidence. Department for Work and Pensions: Working Paper Number 18, London: DWP
Simms, M., (2005), Organising Service Workers: Evidence from Five Trade Union Campaigns. University of Wales. Unpublished PhD thesis. Cardiff: Cardiff University
Simms, M., (2006), The Transition from Organising to Recognition: A Case Study, in: Gall, G., Union Recognition: Organising and Bargaining Outcomes, London: Routledge: 167-180
Simms, M., (2007), Interest Formation in Greenfield Organising Campaigns, "Industrial Relations Journal" 38(5): 434-454
Simms, M., and Holgate, J., (2010), 10 years of the TUC Organising Academy, "International Journal of Human Resource Management" 21(3): 355-370
Voss, K., Sherman, R., (2000), Breaking the Iron Law of Oligarchy: Union Revitalization in the American Labor Movement, "American Journal of Sociology" 106(2): 303-349
Wills, J., Simms, M., (2004) Building Reciprocal Community Unionism in the UK, "Capital and Class" 82 (Spring): 59-84
Autor, D.H., Levy, F., Murnane, R.J., (2003). The Skill Content of Recent Technical Change: An Empirical Investigation, "Quarterly Journal of Economics" 118(4): 1279-1333
Blanden, J., Machin, S., van Reeven, J., (2006), Have Unions Turned a Corner? New Evidence on Recent Trends in Union Recognition in UK Firms, "British Journal of Industrial Relations"44(2): 169-190
Bramble, T., (1995), Deterring Democracy? Australias New Generation of Trade Union Officials, "Journal of Industrial Relations" September: 401-426
Brown, W., Nash, D., (2008), What Has Been Happening to Collective Bargaining Under New Labour? Interpreting WERS 2004, "Industrial Relations Journal" 39(2): 91-103
Bryson, A. and Forth, J., (2010), Trade Union Membership and Influence 1999-2009, NIESR Discussion Paper 362, September, London: National Institute for Economic and Social Research
Carter, B., (2006), Trade Union Organizing and Renewal: A Response to de Turbeville, "Work, Employment and Society" 20(2): 415-426
Clawson, D., (2003), The Next Upsurge: Labor and the New Social Movements, Ithaca: Cornell University Press
Colgan, F., Ledwith S., (2002b), Gender, Diversity and Trade Unions, London: Routledge
Crosby, J., (2005), Democracy, Density, and Transformation: We Need Them All, "Working USA", 8 (December): 733-753
Fairbrother, P., (1989), Workplace Unionism in the 1980s: A Process of Renewal, London: Workers Educational Association
Fairbrother, P., (2000), Unions at the Crossroads, London: Mansell Publishing
Gall, G., (2004), British Employer Resistance to Trade Union Recognition, "Human Resource Management Journal" 14(2): 36-53
Gall, G., (2007), Trade Union Recognition in Britain: An Emerging Crisis for Trade Unions?, "Economic and Industrial Democracy" 28(1): 78-109
Greene, A.-M., Kirton, G., (2003), Advancing Gender Equality: The Role of Women-Only Trade Union Education, Gender, "Work and Organization" 9(1): 39-59
Hall, M., Hutchinson, S., Purcell, J., Terry, M., Parker J., (2009), Implementing Information and Consulation: Evidence from Longitudinal Case Studies in Organisations with 150 or More Employees, Employment Relations Research Series, No. 150, London: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Heery, E., Simms, M., Delbridge, R., Salmon, J., Simpson, D., (2000), Union Organizing in Britain: A Survey of Policy and Practice, "International Journal of Human Resource Management" 11(5): 986-1007
Holgate, J., (2004), Black and Minority Ethnic Worker and Trade Unions. Strategies for Organisation, Recruitment and Inclusion, London: Trades Union Congress
Holgate, J., (2005), Organising Migrant Workers: A Case Study of Working Conditions and Unionisation at a Sandwich Factory in London, "Work, Employment and Society" 19(3): 463-480
Holgate, J., (2009a), The Role of UK Unions in the Civic Integration of Immigrant Workers.Labor Unions and Civic Integration of Immigrant Workers research project
Holgate, J., (2009b), Unionising the Low Paid in London: the Justice for Cleaners Campaign. Case study. Labor Unions and Civic Integration of Immigrant Workers research project.
Holgate, J., (2009c), Contested Terrain: Londons Living Wage Campaign and the Tension Between Community and Union Organising, in: McBride, J., Greenwood, I., red., The Complexity of Community Unionism: a Comparative Analysis of Concepts and Contexts, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan: 49-74
Holgate, J., (2011), Temporary migrant workers and labor organization, Working USA 14: 191-199
Kelly, J., (1998), Rethinking Industrial Relations. Mobilization, Collectivism and Long Waves, London: Routledge
Kelly, J., and Heery, E., (1989), Full-Time Officers and Trade Union Recruitment, "British Journal of Industrial Relations" 27(2): 196-213
Kirton, G., Healy, G., (2004), Shaping Union and Gender Identities: A Case Study of Women- Only Trade Union Courses, "British Journal of Industrial Relations" 42(2): 303-323
McBride, A., (2001), Gender Democracy and Trade Unions, Aldershot: Ashgate
McBride, J., Greenwood, I., (2009), The Complexity of Community Unionism: A Comparative Analysis of Concepts and Contexts, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
McMullen, J., (2006), An Analysis of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, "Industrial Law Journal" 35(2): 113-139
Martinez L., Perret M., Perret, R., (2009), Meanings and Dilemmas in Community Unionism: Trade Union Community Initiatives and Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in the UK, "Work, Employment and Society" 23(4): 693-710
Moore, S., Bewley, H., (2004), The Content of New Voluntary Trade Union Recognition Agreements 1998-2002: Report of Preliminary Findings, Employment Relations Research Series no 26, London: Department of Trade and Industry
Parker, J., Douglas, J., (2010), The Role of Womens Groups in New Zealand, UK and Canadian Trade Unions in Addressing Intersectional Interests, "International Journal of Comparative Industrial Relations and Labour Law" 26(3): 295-319
Perrett, R., Lucio, M.M., (2009), Trade Unions and Relations with Black and Minority- Ethnic Community Groups in the United Kingdom: The Development of New Alliances?, "Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies" 35(8): 1295-1314
Portes, J., French, S., (2005), The Impact of Free Movement of Workers From Central and Eastern Europe on the UK Labour Market: Early Evidence. Department for Work and Pensions: Working Paper Number 18, London: DWP
Simms, M., (2005), Organising Service Workers: Evidence from Five Trade Union Campaigns. University of Wales. Unpublished PhD thesis. Cardiff: Cardiff University
Simms, M., (2006), The Transition from Organising to Recognition: A Case Study, in: Gall, G., Union Recognition: Organising and Bargaining Outcomes, London: Routledge: 167-180
Simms, M., (2007), Interest Formation in Greenfield Organising Campaigns, "Industrial Relations Journal" 38(5): 434-454
Simms, M., and Holgate, J., (2010), 10 years of the TUC Organising Academy, "International Journal of Human Resource Management" 21(3): 355-370
Voss, K., Sherman, R., (2000), Breaking the Iron Law of Oligarchy: Union Revitalization in the American Labor Movement, "American Journal of Sociology" 106(2): 303-349
Wills, J., Simms, M., (2004) Building Reciprocal Community Unionism in the UK, "Capital and Class" 82 (Spring): 59-84