Does Modernizing Union Administrative Practices Promote or Hinder Union Revitalization? A Comparative Study of US, UK and Australian Unions

Paul F Clark,Lois S Gray,Kay Gilbert,Greg J Bamber,Sandra Cockfield,Paul V Whitehead

doi:10.1111/bjir.12526

Abstract

AbstractCan a union be both democratic and administratively efficient, or are these goals always at odds? Building on the Webbs’ focus on this critical question, this article analyses and compares the changing administrative policies and practices of US, UK and Australian trade unions over a 25‐year period. We conducted surveys of unions in all three countries to gather information on union policies and practices involving the unions’ human resources, hiring, budgeting and strategic planning. Using these novel longitudinal data, we contribute to industrial relations scholarship by showing that unions have increasingly adopted formal, systematic practices in these areas. The article is grounded in theory and also has practical relevance given the important implications that our findings may have for the revitalization of unions in the three countries and beyond.

Highlights

Can a union be both democratic and administratively efficient, or are these goals always at odds? Beatrice and Sidney Webb identified this critical issue facing unions a century ago in their classic books Industrial Democracy (1918)Paul F
After considering earlier studies of Australian unions, we infer from our Australian survey and other evidence that there has been an increased formalization, similar to the trends in US and UK unions
The findings show that in 1990, a majority of US unions had written policies in only one of seven human resources (HR) areas; by 2010, a majority of US unions had written policies in five of 10 areas

Summary

Introduction

Can a union be both democratic and administratively efficient, or are these goals always at odds? Beatrice and Sidney Webb identified this critical issue facing unions a century ago in their classic books Industrial Democracy (1918)Paul F. Can a union be both democratic and administratively efficient, or are these goals always at odds? Beatrice and Sidney Webb identified this critical issue facing unions a century ago in their classic books Industrial Democracy (1918). Whitehead are with School of Labor and Employment Relations, Penn State University. Bamber is with Monash Business School, Monash University; and Visiting Professor with Newcastle University and Hertfordshire University. Gray was with New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University. Sandra Cockfield was with Monash Business School, Monash University. Kay Gilbert was with Department of Human Resource Management, University of Strathclyde

Results

Discussion

Conclusion