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Originally published in 1981, Trade Unions was written at a time when there was a widespread belief that Britain's trade unions were undemocratic, obstructive and strike-prone. This book argues that throughout their history, British trade unions have played a reactive role, and that their objectives, organization and tactics have been shaped by the actions of others, whether employers, governments or the judiciary. The book examines the historical development of the trade union movement and its long running battle with lawyers and judges. It then analyses trade union structure, organization and government and looks at the pattern of union activity in the workplace. Trade Unions will be of interest to students of industrial relations, politics and management studies and for anyone interested in the role of unions within contemporary British society.

Originally published in 1952, Trade Unions quickly became a classic and went through 7 editions. It is a brief yet comprehensive guide to the complex structure and administration of British Trade Unions, which deals concisely and lucidly with every important aspect of the complicated tangle of organisations.

Since the Webbs published Industrial Democracy at the end of the nineteenth century, the principle that workers have a legitimate voice in decision-making in the world of work – in some versions through trade unions, in others at least formally through separate representative structures – has become widely accepted in most West European countries. There is now a vast literature on the strengths and weaknesses of such mechanisms, and we review briefly some of the key interpretations of the rise (and fall) of policies and structures for workplace and board-level representation. We also discuss the mainly failed attempts to establish broader processes of economic democracy, which the eclipse of nationally specific mechanisms of class compromise makes again a salient demand. Economic globalization also highlights the need for transnational mechanisms to achieve worker voice (or more radically, control) in the dynamics of capital–labour relations. We therefore examine the role of trade unions in coordinating pressure for a countervailing force at European and global levels, and in the construction of (emergent?) supranational industrial relations. However, many would argue that unions cannot win legitimacy as a democratizing force unless manifestly democratic internally. Therefore we revisit debates on and dilemmas of democracy within trade unions, and examine recent initiatives to enhance democratization.

First published in 1905, this book offers a perspective on the aims and objectives of British trade unions. It details the history, constitution and aims of the trade union, challenging the misconception that a trade union exists solely to foster strikes, harass employers and hamper industry, and discussing the many positives of such organisations. Designed to be accessible for the general public, this book covers history, organisation, function, action and influence.