New survey evidence on recent changes in UK union recognition

Joanne Blanden, Stephen Machin and John van Reenen

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: This paper reports results from a recent survey we conducted on the union status of over 650 firms in the private sector of the UK. Compared to earlier periods, the survey shows that since 1997 there has been a slight fall in derecognition, but a relatively large increase in union recognition. Almost 11% of firms report experiencing some new recognition, whilst 7% reported some derecognition. In the late 1980s new recognitions among similar firms were much lower (3% between 1985 to 1990 according to Gregg and Yates, 1991). In our survey, new recognitions were more prevalent in larger firms and in regions and industries where union membership was already high. New recognitions were less likely to have occurred in companies with higher wages, higher productivity and higher capital intensity. The ‘blip up’ in new recognitions is consistent with the idea that the incoming Labour government had a positive effect on the ability of unions to gain recognition, either through the 1999 legislation or more indirectly through changing the political climate.

Keywords: Unions; productivity; employment legislation. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J51 K31 L25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2005-05
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/768/ Open access version. (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: New Survey Evidence on Recent Changes in UK Union Recognition (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehl:lserod:768

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