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A Comparison of the Trade Union Merger Process in Britain and Germany

Author: Jürgen Hoffman

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2007-05-07

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 1134260156

Trade unions in Europe are currently facing a series of challenges that stem from changes to regulatory and production regimes implemented by the state and employers, in order to compete in an increasingly internationalized economy. In response to these challenges, trade union movements have been dramatically restructuring; long-standing principles of organization have been jettisoned in an attempt to develop new structures. Central to this process of structural adaptation are the mergers of trade unions. This informative book focuses on the merger process in Britain and Germany and, uniquely, it reviews the wider implications of these developments - particularly for North America. As well as addressing the reasons for mergers, the book also examines the process whereby mergers are concluded, investigates the consequences, and analyses the costs and benefits of the post-merger organisation. Drawing on interviews conducted with senior policy-makers engaged in merger processes, this book explores the extent of internal union reform brought about by the merger process, and also identifies the implications of this reform for trade unions world-wide. Structured in distinct sections, this book covers topic such as: what distinguishes the British and German systems? trade union structures pre-merger issues settling the terms of the mergers post-merger developments. This book forms part of the Routledge Research in Employment Relations series featuring works of high academic merit drawn from a wide range of academic studies in the social sciences. It is a valuable resource for postgraduate students studying business and management, industrial employee relations, and trade unions.

United We Stand?

Author: Jeremy Waddington

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 43

ISBN-13: 9781900834490

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An ongoing series of mergers has resulted in almost continual change in the structure of British trade unions. By contrast, the German trade union structure was a model of stability between 1950 and 1989. Drawing on evidence from four case studies, this comparative analysis traces the development of the merger process in the two countries by reference to pre-merger debates and positioning, the procedures whereby mergers were brought about, and merger outcomes.

A Comparison of the Trade Union Merger Process in Britain and Germany

Author: Jürgen Hoffman

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2007-05-07

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 1134260164

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Focusing on trade union mergers in Britain and Germany, and drawing on interviews with senior policy-makers, this book addresses reasons for mergers, examines the conclusion processes, and analyzes costs and benefits for post-merger organizations.

Restructuring Representation

Author: Jeremy Waddington

Publisher: Peter Lang

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 9789052012537

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Throughout the industrialised world trade unionists are reforming their organisations as part of a strategy to adjust to new labour market, economic and political circumstances. This volume examines the role of merger activity in this process of reform. The book identifies the pattern of merger activity, the factors that promote its development and its impact on union structure and governance. Most merger activity is shown to originate in some adverse environmental change, such as membership decline. Furthermore, there is little evidence to suggest that mergers have improved union performance in the recruitment, retention and organisation of members, although, in some cases, the reform of systems of membership participation has been facilitated. The shift away from industrial unions has been accelerated by merger involvement, which has also brought into question the role of confederations where the number of affiliated unions has declined markedly. The book comprises two sections. The first section examines the merger process in ten countries (Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, UK and US). The second section comprises three 'horizontal' chapters in which authors of the national chapters develop themes that emerge from the national chapters in comparative perspective.

Trade Union Merger Strategies

Author: Roger Undy

Publisher: Oxford University Press on Demand

Published: 2008-05-22

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 0199544948

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As Trade Union membership has declined, merger and amalgamation have been prominent features in strategies of revitalization. Yet, there is very little systematic, empirical research into their effects on unions or the wider union movement. This ground-breaking study fills this gap with its in-depth analysis of British unions' mergers since 1978.

Trade Unions in Western Europe

Author: Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2013-10-03

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 0191664693

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Trade unions in most of Europe are on the defensive: in recent decades they have lost membership, sometimes drastically; their collective bargaining power has declined, as has their influence on government; and in many countries, their public respect is much diminished. This book explores the challenges facing trade unions and their responses in ten west European countries: Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Italy. Based on a substantial number of interviews with key union representatives and academic experts in each country, together with the collection of a large amount of union documentation and background material, the book gives an account of how trade unionism has evolved in each country, the main recent challenges that unions have faced, and their responses. The book engages with the debates of the past two decades on union modernization and revitalization, and more generally with theories of institutional change and the literature on varieties of capitalism. Some observers ask whether unions remain relevant socio-economic actors, but challenging times can stimulate new thinking, and hence provide new opportunities. This book aims to show why trade unions are (still) important subjects for scientific analysis: first, as a means of collective 'voice' allowing employees to challenge management control and bringing a measure of balance to the employment relationship; second, as a form of 'countervailing power' to the socio-economic dominance of capital; and third, their potential as a 'sword of justice' to defend the weak, vulnerable and disadvantaged, express a set of values in opposition to the dominant political economy, and offer aspirations for a different—and better—form of society.

Trade Union Education

Author: Mike Seal

Publisher: New Internationalist

Published: 2018-05-08

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1780264267

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Trade union education is in the doldrums. It generally lacks modern ways of teaching and is full of outdated content and avoids history, economics and politics. This book demonstrates clearly that what is delivered in trade union education, and how it is delivered, have to be reformed and modernised. It successfully shows also how all trade unionists all over the world are educators in one way or another. Chapters cover the history, context and challenges in trade union education, the power of popular education techniques, trade union activism, community and social movements, practical examples of transformative new work and learning tips, learning materials and all those areas relevant to delivering impactful education.

Challenges of European Employment Relations

Author: Linda Dickens

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2008-01-01

Total Pages: 285

ISBN-13: 9041127712

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Has European economic and market integration curtailed the autonomy of national industrial relations actors and institutions? Or has it reinforced their roles in securing much-needed economic adjustment? This important book offers a deeply-informed comparative perspective on these questions, drawing on empirical research on changing conditions within and beyond the EU. The book builds on papers presented at the 8th European Regional Congress of the International Industrial Relations Association, held in the UK in September 2007. The authors are leading academic authorities from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With detailed attention to such pervasive factors as the consequences of EU enlargement, the shift from manufacturing to services, changes in the gender composition and demographic profile of the labour force, and the growing influence of multinational companies, the authors address such issues as the following: * response of national employment regulatory traditions to globalization, privatization, outsourcing and budgetary pressures; emergence of new forms of competitive advantage for both employers and employees; impact of EU-mandated information and consultation mechanisms; possibility of international union action and transnational solidarity; 'flexicurity' and the changing demographics of the labour force; gender democracy in trade unions; trade union mergers; statutory minimum conditions as an alternative to collective bargaining; regulation or culture change to promote equality; treatment of posted and migrant workers within increasingly transnational labour markets; growth in variable pay systems; and possible rebirth of vocational training systems and apprenticeships. Offering in-depth comparative insights into the way in which national and international systems of employment relations are evolving rapidly in the face of cross-cutting pressures for change, this book illuminates a vastly complex state of affairs. In practical terms, its many insights into how current trends affect specific working conditions open the way to new initiatives in developing and maintaining a just and equitable employment relations regime for Europe and beyond.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Trade Unions

Author: Lutz Preuss

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-10-03

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 1135077843

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Growing interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has focused attention on the relationship between businesses and key stakeholders, such as NGOs and local communities. Curiously, however, commentators on CSR rarely discuss the role of trade unions, while commentators on employment relations seldom engage with CSR. This situation is all the more remarkable since unions are a critically important social actor and have traditionally played a prominent role in defending the interests of one key stakeholder in the company, the employee. Written by dedicated experts in their field, this book addresses a key gap in the literature on both CSR and employment relations, namely trade union policies towards CSR, as well as union engagement with particular CSR initiatives and the challenges they face in doing so. The research covers eleven European countries which, when taken together, constitute a representative sample of industrial relations structures across the continent. This book will be essential reading for scholars, students and practitioners of international business, employment relations, public policy and CSR. Its foreword is written by Philippe Pochet and Maria Jepsen, Directors of the European Trade Union Institute in Brussels.