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Union Democracy Reexamined

Author

Listed:
  • Margaret Levi

    (Politics, U.S. Studies Centre, Sydney University, International Studies in the Department of Political Science, University of Washington, mlevi@u.washington.edu)

  • David Olson

    (Political Science at the University of Washington, davidols@u.washington.edu)

  • Jon Agnone

    (Department of Sociology at the University of Washington, agnone@u.washington.edu)

  • Devin Kelly

    (Department of Sociology at the University of Washington, devink@u.washington.edu)

Abstract

Trade union leaders serve dual, seemingly contradictory roles. They must command militant organizations in conflicts with employers. Simultaneously, they must be accountable and democratically responsive to their members. Few unions possess the institutions or leadership to accomplish both. This article analyzes the practices of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), in which effective contract negotiation (including leadership during strikes) and an informed, active rank-and-file democracy are mutually supportive. We offer an alternative to standard accounts of union democracy. While the claims are based on a detailed case study, the theoretical model and its insights hold for labor unions and organizations more broadly.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Levi & David Olson & Jon Agnone & Devin Kelly, 2009. "Union Democracy Reexamined," Politics & Society, , vol. 37(2), pages 203-228, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:37:y:2009:i:2:p:203-228
    DOI: 10.1177/0032329209333925
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul Jarley & Jack Fiorito & John T. Delaney, 2000. "National Union Governance: An Empirically-Grounded Systems Approach," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 21(2), pages 227-246, April.
    2. Freeman, Richard B, 1988. "Contraction and Expansion: The Divergence of Private Sector and Public Sector Unionism in the United States," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 2(2), pages 63-88, Spring.
    3. Joel Seidman, 1953. "Democracy in Labor Unions," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61(3), pages 221-221.
    4. Samuel Estreicher, 2000. "Deregulating Union Democracy," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 21(2), pages 247-263, April.
    5. Margaret Levi & Gillian H. Murphy, 2006. "Coalitions of Contention: The Case of the WTO Protests in Seattle," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 54, pages 651-670, December.
    6. Bruce E. Kaufman, 2005. "Historical Insights: The Early Institutionalists on Trade Unionism and Labor Policy," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 26(1), pages 1-32, January.
    7. Margaret Levi & Gillian H. Murphy, 2006. "Coalitions of Contention: The Case of the WTO Protests in Seattle," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 54(4), pages 651-670, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Elaine Sio-ieng Hui & Chris King-chi Chan, 2015. "Beyond the Union-Centred Approach: A Critical Evaluation of Recent Trade Union Elections in China," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 53(3), pages 601-627, September.
    2. Katy Fox-Hodess, 2020. "Building Labour Internationalism ‘from Below’: Lessons from the International Dockworkers Council’s European Working Group," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(1), pages 91-108, February.
    3. Adrien Thomas, 2017. "Conglomerate Unions and Transformations of Union Democracy," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 55(3), pages 648-671, September.
    4. Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos & Julie Barnett, 2015. "Social Media in Union Communications: An International Study with UNI Global Union Affiliates," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 53(3), pages 508-532, September.
    5. Alexander Hertel-Fernandez & William Kimball & Thomas Kochan, 2022. "What Forms of Representation Do American Workers Want? Implications for Theory, Policy, and Practice," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(2), pages 267-294, March.
    6. Simon Pek, 2019. "Rekindling Union Democracy Through the Use of Sortition," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 1033-1051, April.

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