Union Organization in Great Britain

Alex Bryson and P Willman

CEP Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

Abstract: Union membership and density in Britain has experienced substantial decline since 1979. The fall in private sector membership and density has been much greater than in the public sector. The size of the union sector, measured by employer recognition, has shrunk. Membership decline has been accompanied by financial decline. Much of the decline occurred before 1997, under Conservative governments. Since 1997 and the return of a Labour government, the position has in some respects stabilized. Currently, unions have a substantially reduced economic impact, but a continued, if limited, role in workplace communication and grievance handling, often as part of a voice regime including non union elements.

Keywords: British trade unions; union structure; union membership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J5 J51 J53 J54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Working Paper: Union organization in Great Britain (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp0774

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