Working for the Union: British Trade Union Officers (Cambridge Studies in Management, Series Number 22)

This book is a study of the relationship between full-time union officials and shop stewards across the whole of British industry (public and private, manufacturing and services) in 1986–91. It is the first major study of union officials for 20 years, and one of the most detailed studies of workplace collective bargaining and union organisation following the recession of the early 1980s. In the wake of recession, union decline, industrial restructuring, anti-union legislation, and changes in union policies (towards a new realism), Britain is said by some commentators to be entering a new era of industrial relations. This book provides a unique body of evidence that throws new light on this claim, and casts serious doubt on its validity. It combines survey, interview, questionnaire and observation data and thus overcomes the well known limitations of both large-scale surveys and individual case studies. Frontmatter......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 List of figures and tables......Page 8 Preface......Page 11 List of abbreviations......Page 12 Part 1 - Introduction......Page 15 1 - Introduction: trade unions and industrial relations......Page 17 2 - Theoretical analyses and empirical studies of trade union officers......Page 22 Part 2 - The parameters of union work......Page 45 3 - Full-time officer organization......Page 47 4 - Employment relations......Page 67 5 - Work relations......Page 88 Part 3 - The full-time officer at work......Page 113 6 - Organizing......Page 115 7 - Bargaining objectives......Page 137 8 - The bargaining process......Page 158 9 - Dealing with managers......Page 187 Part 4 - Conclusions......Page 201 10 - Working for the union......Page 203 Appendix: Research methods......Page 222 Notes......Page 226 Bibliography......Page 229 Index of names......Page 237 Index of subjects......Page 240 Cambridge Studies in Management......Page 243 This book is a study of the relationship between full-time union officers and shop stewards across the whole of British industry (public and private, manufacturing and services) in 1986-91. It is the first major study of union officers for 20 years, and one of the most detailed studies of workplace collective bargaining and union organization following the recession of the early 1980s. In the wake of recession, union decline, industrial restructuring, anti-union legislation, and changes in union policies (towards a 'new realism'), Britain is said by some commentators to be entering 'a new industrial relations'. This book provides a unique body of evidence that throws new light on this claim, and casts serious doubt on its validity. It combines survey, interview, questionnaire and observation data and thus overcomes the well-known limitations of both large-scale surveys and individual case studies. A Study Of The Relationship Between Full-time Union Officials And Shop Stewards Across The Whole Of British Industry In 1986-91. Pt. 1. Introduction. 1. Introduction: Trade Unions And Industrial Relations. 2. Theoretical Analyses And Empirical Studies Of Trade Union Officers -- Pt. 2. The Parameters Of Union Work. 3. Full-time Officer Organization. 4. Employment Relations. 5. Work Relations -- Pt. 3. The Full-time Officer At Work. 6. Organizing. 7. Bargaining Objectives. 8. The Bargaining Process. 9. Dealing With Managers -- Pt. 4. Conclusions. 10. Working For The Union. John Kelly And Edmund Heery. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 215-222) And Indexes. This book is a study of the relationship between full-time union officials and shop stewards across the whole of British industry in 1986-87. It is the first major study of union officials for twenty years, and one of the most detailed studies of workplace collective bargaining and union organization following the recession of the early 1980s. In the wake of recession, union decline and industrial restructuring, Britain is said by some commentators to be entering "a new industrial relations." This book provides a unique body of evidence that throws new light on this claim, and casts serious doubt on its validity. Working for the Union is a study of the relationship between full-time union officials and shop stewards across the whole of British industry in the period 1986–91. In the wake of recession and union decline, Britain has been said to be entering 'a new era of industrial relations'. This book provides a unique body of evidence that casts serious doubt on the validity of this claim.