Suchergebnisse

This paper uses neo-functionalist and institutionalist theories of geo-political integration to develop a theory of international trade unionism. In brief, the theory asserts that the type of international 'context' in which international trade unions operate presupposes the types of 'imperatives' that will dominate their interests and concerns. These imperatives are taken to operate along one of three dimensions – industrial, political and ideological, and are seen as evolving in accordance with the 'logic of spill-over' in global and sub-global integration processes. Using this interpretation the discussion provides reasons as to why ideological imperatives have historically dominated international trade union thinking, the only significant exception being regional trade unions operating in Europe, which have evolved beyond the ideological to embrace industrial and political imperatives in their modes of organisation and operation.

This paper draws on the industrial relations experiences of Britain and New Zealand in periods when economic rationalism held the ascendancy in their national policy agendas. In so doing, it looks at the impact of deregulatory provisions contained in laws directed at controlling the organisation and activities of trade unions. The paper finds that legislative reforms aimed at controlling the behaviour of trade unions are less effective in industrial relations environments characterised by a history of voluntarism and strong trade union presence in the workplace; and conversely, that reforming legislation aimed at achieving these ends is likely to be more effective in environments marked by a history of strong state support for compulsory arbitration and where trade unions are organisationally weak in the workplace. In view of the 'Second Wave' industrial relations legislation currently being considered by the Howard Government, the implication of these findings for Australian trade unions suggests that they must improve existing levels of workplace organisation if they are to avoid the fate of their New Zealand counterparts.

This article looks at the political development of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the peak organization representing the regional interests of national trade unions operating in Europe. It argues that the ETUC is better understood as a political lobby group rather than an orthodox trade union, and that its influence at the level of European politics is the criterion by which its effectiveness should be gauged. The vehicle used to carry this claim is a case study that elaborates the role played by the organization in lobbying for European Union legislation on worker participation rights. ... changes in the legislative procedures of the EU and moves to implement a single market had positive implications for the ETUC's external political legitimacy, ... this proved influential in the spread of worker participation practices in European multinationals and the eventual adoption of EU legislation in this area. From these insights the article concludes with some comment on the theory of regional trade unionism. (Economic and Industrial Democracy / FUB)

Discusses membership, structure, supporting institutions, sources of revenue, and central objectives; evaluates organizational reforms implemented in 1991.

This article combines the key elements of new public management theories with theories of privatisation and total quality management. The key elements identified in this review are used to establish a general model of new public management. Based on western theorising, the model is acknowledged as having a cultural bias. As a corrective, the article reviews the empirical experience of Malaysian public sector reform between 1980 and 2000, with the findings being used to identifying country-specific characteristics as a means of refining the model in a way that reflects that experience. The discussion concludes by setting out a revised model of new public management which takes account of its application in a Malaysian context. The contention is that the process of enquiry leading to this contingent model of new public management might be adapted along similar lines for the purposes of analysing the application of public sector reform in other developing countries. Adapted from the source document.