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The viability of trade union organisation: a bargaining unit analysis

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  • Willman, Paul

Abstract

The paper develops a model of trade union behaviour based on the concept of the viable bargaining unit. Bargaining unit viability rests on five conditions; membership level, service level, membership participation, employer recognition and facilities. Viability is achieved by mobilisation of both members and employers. Trade unions may be seen as portfolios of viable and inviable bargaining units. From this, six propositions about trade union structure and behaviour are derived, concerning scale, growth, the impact of statutory recognition provisions, the emergence of conglomerate unions, governance structures and relations with employers. Employer dependence is a crucial element in the model and a simple game theoretic approach is used to discuss employer co-operation. A key conclusion is that viability at the union level is achieved by diversifying portfolios of bargaining units and securing co-operative relations with employers.

Suggested Citation

  • Willman, Paul, 2000. "The viability of trade union organisation: a bargaining unit analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 20159, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:20159
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/20159/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kelly,John & Heery,Edmund, 1994. "Working for the Union," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521383202, September.
    2. Patrick C. Flood & Bill Toner, 1997. "Large Non-Union Companies: How Do They Avoid a Catch 22?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 35(2), pages 257-277, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rafael Gomez & Seymour Martin Lipset & Noah Meltz, 2001. "Frustrated Demand for Unionisation: the Case of the United States and Canada Revisited," CEP Discussion Papers dp0492, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Benjamin Michallet & Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta & François Facchini, 2015. "Greening Up or Not? The Determinants Political Parties’ Environmental Concern: An Empirical Analysis Based on European Data (1970-2008)," Working Papers 2015.25, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unions; structure; strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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