Meanings and dilemmas in community unionism

Miguel Martínez Lucio and Robert Perrett
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Miguel Martínez Lucio: Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Miguel.Martinezlucio@manchester.ac.uk
Robert Perrett: University of Bradford School of Management, r.perrett@bradford.ac.uk

Work, Employment & Society, 2009, vol. 23, issue 4, 693-710

Abstract: The article shows that community initiatives take different forms and are the outcome of a broader interplay of factors between workers’ interests, representation, and the strategies of unions and broader coalitions that are mobilized in specific communities. Drawing from three case studies on black and minority ethnic (BME) workers and trade unions in the UK the article looks at how the rhetoric of community unionism has been adopted in an uneven manner by trade unions: the article suggests that: (a) community initiatives are variable, (b) they lack a structure and clear vision, (c) the question of BME engagement is rarely central in many projects, and (d) the ambivalent role of the state is a significant factor in many of these initiatives. This state role is downplayed in much of the literature, thus raising dilemmas in terms of community initiatives.

Keywords: black and minority ethnic; coalitions; community unionism; networks; the state; trade unions; union renewal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:woemps:v:23:y:2009:i:4:p:693-710

DOI: 10.1177/0950017009344916

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