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Union Renewal and Workplace Greening — Three Case Studies

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  • Tom Farnhill

Abstract

This article evaluates the renewal potential of three unions’ workplace greening agendas in three large workplaces. The cases suggest the agenda is easy to initiate with members and employers and has tangible environmental benefits but is labour intensive and difficult to sustain beyond focusing events. There is limited evidence that the agenda attracts new members but stronger evidence that it attracts new activists. Although facilitative of partnership, unions are mainly cast as environmental watchdogs and trouble‐shooters. The findings suggest that even timely, popular, developmental agendas, conducive to partnership, can have only a moderate effect on union renewal and must be consciously configured to do so properly.

Suggested Citation

  • Tom Farnhill, 2018. "Union Renewal and Workplace Greening — Three Case Studies," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(4), pages 716-743, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:56:y:2018:i:4:p:716-743
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Hickey & Sarosh Kuruvilla & Tashlin Lakhani, 2010. "No Panacea for Success: Member Activism, Organizing and Union Renewal," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(1), pages 53-83, March.
    2. Melanie Simms & Jane Holgate, 2010. "Organising for what?: Where is the debate on the politics of organising?," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(1), pages 157-168, March.
    3. Martin Upchurch & Richard Croucher & Matt Flynn, 2012. "Political Congruence and Trade Union Renewal," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 26(5), pages 857-868, October.
    4. Peter Fairbrother, 2015. "Rethinking trade unionism: Union renewal as transition," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 26(4), pages 561-576, December.
    5. Fredriksson, Per G. & Gaston, Noel, 1999. "The "greening" of trade unions and the demand for eco-taxes," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 663-686, November.
    6. Sue Fernie & David Metcalf, 1995. "Participation, Contingent Pay, Representation and Workplace Performance: Evidence from Great Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 33(3), pages 379-415, September.
    7. Jack Fiorito & Irene Padavic & Zachary Russell, 2014. "Union Beliefs and Activism: A Research Note," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 346-357, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Renee Paulet & Peter Holland & Andrew Bratton, 2021. "Employee Voice: The Missing Factor in Sustainable HRM?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Josef Ringqvist, 2022. "Union membership and the willingness to prioritize environmental protection above growth and jobs: A multi‐level analysis covering 22 European countries," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(3), pages 662-682, September.

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