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Evolution or revolution? The impact of unions on workplace performance in Britain and France

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Bryson

    (NIESR - National Institute of Economic and Social Research - Independent economic research institute)

  • John Forth

    (NIESR - National Institute of Economic and Social Research - Independent economic research institute)

  • Patrice Laroche

    (Université Nancy 2, CEREFIGE - Centre Européen de Recherche en Economie Financière et Gestion des Entreprises - UL - Université de Lorraine)

Abstract

We use nationally representative workplace surveys to examine the relationship between unionization and workplace financial performance in Britain and France. We find that union bargaining is detrimental to workplace performance in both countries. However, in Britain the effect is confined to the declining proportion of unionized workplaces where there is active collective bargaining. In the French case, the effect is confined to the minority of cases where unions have high density and to unions with a reputation for militancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Bryson & John Forth & Patrice Laroche, 2011. "Evolution or revolution? The impact of unions on workplace performance in Britain and France," Post-Print hal-02138163, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02138163
    DOI: 10.1177/0959680111400907
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Stijn Baert & Eddy Omey, 2015. "Hiring Discrimination Against Pro-union Applicants: The Role of Union Density and Firm Size," De Economist, Springer, vol. 163(3), pages 263-280, September.
    2. Thomas Amossé & Philippe Askenazy & Martin Chevalier & Christine Erhel & Héloïse Petit & Antoine Rebérioux, 2016. "Industrial Relations and Firms’ Reactions to the Recession: A Comparative Micro-Econometric Analysis of France and Great Britain [Relations sociales et ajustements à la crise : une analyse micro-st," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-02172455, HAL.
    3. Bilal Hassan, 2024. "Workplace democracy and democratic legitimacy in Europe," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(2), pages 389-414, May.
    4. John T. Addison, 2016. "Collective bargaining systems and macroeconomic and microeconomic flexibility: the quest for appropriate institutional forms in advanced economies," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-53, December.
    5. Laroche, Patrice, 2020. "Unions, Collective Bargaining and Firm Performance," GLO Discussion Paper Series 728, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Thomas AMOSSÉ & Philippe ASKENAZY & Martin CHEVALIER & Christine ERHEL & Héloïse PETIT & Antoine REBÉRIOUX, 2019. "Industrial relations and adjustments to the crisis: A comparative micro‐statistical analysis of France and Great Britain," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(3), pages 463-487, September.
    7. VAN DEN BERG, Annette & GRIFT, Yolanda & VAN WITTELOOSTUIJN, Arjen & BOONE, Christophe & VAN DER BREMPT, Olivier, 2013. "The effect of employee workplace representation on firm performance. A cross-country comparison within Europe," ACED Working Papers 2013016, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    8. Mathieu Floquet & Pierre Labardin, 2014. "Les déterminants de la sous-traitance de la fonction comptable dans les entreprises françaises," Post-Print hal-01899426, HAL.
    9. Addison, John T. & Teixeira, Paulino, 2019. "Strikes, employee workplace representation, unionism, and industrial relations quality in European establishments," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 109-133.
    10. A. van den Berg & Y.K. Grift & A. van Witteloostuijn & C. Boone & O. van der Brempt, 2013. "The effect of employee workplace representation on firm performance: A cross-country comparison within Europe," Working Papers 13-05, Utrecht School of Economics.
    11. Simon Eisele & Martin R. Schneider, 2020. "What Do Unions Do to Work Design? Computer Use, Union Presence, and Tayloristic Jobs in Britain," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(4), pages 604-626, October.
    12. Addison John T. & Teixeira Paulino, 2019. "Workplace Employee Representation and Industrial Relations Performance: New Evidence from the 2013 European Company Survey," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 239(1), pages 111-154, January.
    13. John T. Addison, 2016. "Collective bargaining systems and macroeconomic and microeconomic flexibility: the quest for appropriate institutional forms in advanced economies," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-53, December.
    14. Eungoo Kang & Hyoyoung Lee, 2021. "Employee Compensation Strategy as Sustainable Competitive Advantage for HR Education Practitioners," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, January.
    15. Nicola Pensiero, 2022. "The effect of computerisation on the wage share in United Kingdom workplaces," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 33(1), pages 158-177, March.
    16. Thomas Amosse & Alex Bryson & John Forth & Heloise Petit, 2023. "The Micro-Foundations of Employment Systems: An Empirical Case Study of Britain and France," DoQSS Working Papers 23-04, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    17. Della Torre, Edoardo, 2019. "Collective voice mechanisms, HRM practices and organizational performance in Italian manufacturing firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 398-410.
    18. VAN DEN BERG, Annette & GRIFT, Yolanda & VAN WITTELOOSTUIJN, Arjen & BOONE, Christophe & VAN DER BREMPT, Olivier, 2013. "The effect of employee workplace representation on firm performance. A cross-country comparison within Europe," Working Papers 2013008, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    19. Mohrenweiser, Jens, 2022. "Works Councils," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1103, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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