Book Reviews

Abstract

John W. Budd of the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies, University of Minnesota reviews “Trade Unions in Western Europe: Hard Times, Hard Choices”, by Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick and Richard Hyman. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores the challenges facing trade unions and their responses in ten west European countries—Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Italy. Discusses varieties of industrial relations and trade unionism; challenges and responses; renewing power resources—recruitment, representation, and mobilization; restructuring trade unionism—mergers and organizational redesign; bargaining in adversity—decentralization, social partnership, and the crisis; unions and politics—parties, alliances, and the battle of ideas; beyond national boundaries—unions, Europe, and the world; and reconciling strategy and democracy. Gumbrell-McCormick is Senior Lecturer in Management at Birkbeck College, University of London. Hyman is Emeritus Professor of Industrial Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.”