British Workers Research Articles

The Future of Global Unions: Is Solidarity Still Forever?

Last November in Vienna, fifteen years after the demise of the Soviet Union and well into the third decade of corporate-driven globalization, the international trade union movement was reorganized to eliminate its debilitating cold war political divisions and to enhance coordination across industrial lines made obsolete by globalization. The founding of this new organization, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents 168 million workers in 153 countries, was hailed as historic by the few dozen people who follow these things, which it may well be, though you probably missed the coverage in your local newspaper. Earlier this year AFL-CIO president John Sweeney met with Iraqi trade unionists in Jordan (there being no place secure enough in Iraq to hold such a meeting) to support Iraqi union resistance to an array of Bush administration policies, particularly on the privatization and denationalization of the oil industry; Teamster president James Hoffa and Service Employees International Union president Andy Stern were in China with a delegation of Change to Win (CTW) unions, the group that split from the AFL-CIO, meeting with communists and capitalists to exchange views on worker rights in the global economy. In Ottawa, Steelworker president Leo Gerard announced a merger that would bring together nearly three million American, Canadian, British and Irish workers in one union, and Communication Workers president Larry Cohen was in Athens to raise the visibility of an organizing campaign aimed at the world’s largest cell phone service company, which operates in twenty-five countries on four continents.

Reconciling Policy and Propaganda: The British Overseas Television Service 1954–1964

Reconciling Policy and Propaganda: The British Overseas Television Service 1954–1964

‘A Merciful, Heaven-Sent Release’?

ABSTRACTThis article traces the profound social repercussions that resulted from the mass enlistment of British office workers into the armed forces during the First World War. Drawing heavily upon fictionalized autobiographies of the period, my study examines the various stages of the clerk's experience of the conflict and argues that the confidence gained during warfare by surviving office workers fundamentally shaped a more democratic postwar society. This change is evidenced, I argue, in the profile of the fictional clerk that emerges in British literature after 1918.

Amateurism, Sport and the Left: Amateurism for All Versus Amateur Elitism

Though some socialists regarded sport as a distraction, others embraced it with enthusiasm, believing that worker sport had revolutionary potential. This essay explores the socialist alternative to bourgeois sport as promoted by the Clarion Cycling Clubs after 1894 and the British Workers’ Sports Federation after 1923. It also examines the developing left-wing critique of amateurism that such organizations embodied. They were deeply suspicious of gentlemanly amateurism on account of its association with various forms of social exclusion, direct and indirect, which effectively restricted working-class participation in sport. The socialist commitment to internationalism also led workers’ sport organizations to turn their backs on the Olympic Games, which was organized on the basis of competition between nations. Workers’ sports organizations effectively promoted a different kind of amateurism rooted in working-class solidarity and mass participation.

TCBH Postgraduate Essay Prize Winner for 2006 * Working-Class Consumers and the Campaign for Holidays with Pay

The Holidays With Pay Act (1938) marked the end of a twenty-year campaign for paid leisure time. The final legislation recommended, but did not mandate, one week's annual paid vacation to all full-time workers. Although the leisure habits of British workers remained relatively unchanged until after 1945, the popular campaign for paid leisure time, the report of the Holidays With Pay Committee, and the Act itself marked an important moment in British political and social history. In short, the campaign for paid holidays legitimated the leisure desires and activities of the working class and encouraged state support of the growth of inexpensive commercial leisure in the interwar years. The campaign for paid leisure and the resulting 1938 Act not only helped to create a market for mass pleasure sites, but also helped to define the types of commercial leisure appropriate for a mass of newly leisured workers. The campaign, the report and the legislation deeply implicated the state in the construction of a consuming working-class and in the expansion of commercial, class-based sites of leisure. The 1938 Holidays With Pay Act thus redefined who was considered a legitimate consumer of pleasure and what forms that commercialized pleasure should take.

Real Wage Cyclicality of Job Stayers, Within-Company Job Movers, and Between-Company Job Movers

Using the British New Earnings Survey Panel Data for 1975–2001, the authors estimate the wage cyclicality (the degree to which wage levels rise and fall with economic upturns and downturns) of three groups: job stayers, within-company job movers, and between-company job movers. Wages of internal movers, they find, were slightly more procyclical, and wages of external movers considerably more procyclical, than those of stayers. The greater cyclicality of movers' wages is particularly apparent for private sector workers and persons not covered by collective agreements. Nevertheless, because job stayers comprised about 90% of all observations in this large sample of British workers, the procyclicality of their wages was the predominant determinant of the overall procyclical pattern found across all groups. Thus, the analysis does not support the implication of some rigid wage models that employers use job title changes to adjust wages to the business cycle.

Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses and Nurse Specialists: what's in a name?

Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses and Nurse Specialists: what's in a name?

Drug metabolism and pharmacogenetics: the British contribution to fields of international significance.

The branch of pharmacology we now call 'drug metabolism', the consideration of the enzymes and procesess determining the disposition of drugs in the body, emerged in the 1840s on the continent of Europe, but British science made little or no contribution until the 1920s. From this point on, the development of the field through the 20th century was shaped to a very significant extent by a series of influential British workers, whose contributions were of global significance and who can now be seen as fathers of the subject. Since the 1950s, and gaining pace inexorably from the 1970s, the significance of drug metabolism to human therapeutics has been greatly added to by the emergence of pharmacogenetics, clinically important hereditary variation in response to drugs, which underpins the current emphasis on personalised medicine. This review examines the British contributions to both these fields through the lives of seven key contributors and attempts to place their work both in the context of its time and its lasting influence.

Youth-adult differences in the demand for unionization: Are American, British, and Canadian workers all that different?

We examine demand for union membership amongst young and adult workers in Britain, Canada, and the United States. Using a model of representation advanced by Farber (1983, 2001) and Riddell (1993), we find that a majority of the union density differential between young and adult workers in all three countries is due to supply-side constraints rather than a lower desire for unionization by the young. This finding lends credence to two conjectures: first, tastes for collective representation do not differ substantially among workers (either by nationality or by age) and second, union representation can be fruitfully modeled as an experience-good. The experience-good properties of union membership explain the persistence of union density differentials (in this case between youth and adults) in the face of equal levels of desired representation.

Windfalls, Wealth, and the Transition to Self-Employment

We examine the transition to, and survival in, self-employment among a sample of British workers. We find evidence of capital constrains, with wealthier individuals being more likely to transit ceteris paribus. Windfall gains raise the probability of transition at a decreasing rate – gains or more than £20000–£22000 reduce the probability of transition – and larger gains reduce the probability of transition amongst relatively wealthier respondents. We also find peculiarities in the effects of particular types of windfall; redundancy payments and inheritances raise the probability of transition, whilst lottery wins reduce the probability of (especially male) transitions. In contrast, inheritances (lottery wins) hinder (augment) self-employment survival.

Color Problems: Work, Pathology, and Perception in Modern Britain

This article explores the historical relationship between scientific research and labor management by investigating the state supervision of color perception in British workers (1870s-1920s). Whereas eighteenth-century scientific writers had described color blindness as an individual idiosyncrasy, color blindness was interpreted in the late nineteenth century as a social contaminant. As multiple sites of labor and industry were saturated with color—for example, through the deployment of flashing red and green lights on ships and railways—the color vision of workers became an increasingly significant medical and legal concern. Starting in the 1890s, the Board of Trade developed new efforts to legislate the admittedly subjective realm of color perception. But British workers also publicly opposed the Board's efforts to regulate their perception and objected to the “modernist” palette that was commonly used in color vision tests. I trace the emergence of color blindness as a class-specific pathology and consider both the denigration and the valorization of workers' perceptions in modern British industrial society.

Music in factories: a twentieth-century technique for control of the productive self

This paper discusses the historical use of music to produce more efficient, more committed, industrial workers. First emerging in academia early in the twentieth century, psychological interest in the industrial application of music had grown into a topic of popular interest and government investigation by the 1940s. Catalysed by the need for vast increases in production and the desire to cultivate ‘citizenship’ amongst industrial workers which the Second World War produced, consideration of how music could be employed as an affective soundtrack in factories—to raise employees' work rates, to increase their efficiency, to combat fatigue and boredom, to improve morale, to access and manipulate their emotions and loyalties—became a prominent area of psychological research. This paper examines that psychological research and its largest scale application in the BBC radio show Music While You Work, broadcast daily to millions of British factory workers from 1940 until 1967. The paper focuses particularly on conceptualizations of music's affective power and its utilization to exert ‘emotional control’ over spaces of work and the working self. This paper is centrally concerned with the practice of Music While You Work as a programme broadcasting specifically for factory spaces, and how this confronted the BBC's music policies for a national and domestic audience, impacting on the radical nature of the affective soundtrack to work which was produced.

A brief history of the pathology of the gonads

Our understanding of gonadal pathology has reached its current state as a result of the contributions of numerous outstanding investigators. Knowledge of testicular tumor pathology dates back to the great British workers Percival Pott and Sir Astley Cooper but the single greatest early stride was made with the description in 1906 by the French urologist Maurice Chevassu of the seminoma. The seminal 1946 paper of Nathan B Friedman and Robert A Moore, which segregated out as a distinct entity embryonal carcinoma, is, however, the foundation for the current classification of testicular tumors. In that year Pierre Masson described the distinctive neoplasm, the spermatocytic seminoma. The 1950s saw the publication of an important paper by Frank J Dixon and Dr Moore and they also wrote the first series fascicle on testicular tumors. In this same timeframe, and thereafter, Robert E Scully made significant contributions to testicular pathology, writing the first English language paper on spermatocytic seminoma, describing several subtypes of sex cord tumor, and also the distinctive lesion of intersex, the gonadoblastoma, as well as playing a major role in 1980 in formulating the current classification of premalignant lesions of the testis. The current classification of testicular tumors was arrived at in the early 1970s when the World Health Organization, under the leadership of Dr FK Mostofi, who himself made notable contributions to testicular pathology, devised what is fundamentally the current classification of neoplasms of the male gonad. Although comments on ovarian pathology were made by such legendary figures of earlier times as Giovanni Battista Morgagni and Matthew Baillie, it is only in the mid to later years of the 19th century that contributions, mostly in Europe, began to move knowledge of ovarian pathology to its current state. Thomas Hodgkin, Richard Bright, and Sir James Paget all wrote extensively on ovarian neoplasms. In 1870, Heinrich Waldeyer, and later in that century, another German, Hermann Johannes Pfannenstiel wrote important papers on the surface epithelial tumors. The latter was likely the first to refer to neoplasms now known as of 'borderline malignancy' and also wrote on pseudomyxoma peritonei and other topics. Their work was followed by that of Robert Meyer who made monumental contributions to gynecological pathology, including recognizing the Brenner tumor as a distinctive neoplasm and proposing the first classification of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (arrhenoblastomas). He also coined the term 'disgerminoma' (soon changed to dysgerminoma) for the ovarian tumor that had been described in detail by the French investigator Marcel Chenot 5 years after Chevassu had mentioned the tumor in his paper describing the seminoma. During the Meyer era other significant contributions were made by, among others, Howard C Taylor writing on the borderline tumors and John A Sampson writing on endometriosis and tumors, associated with it. In the second-half of the 20th century major contributions were made by Gunnar Teilum of Denmark and Lars Santesson of Sweden. Dr Teilum delineated the morphologic features of the yolk sac tumor and noted the resemblance of papillary formations within it to the endodermal sinuses of the rat placenta. He also wrote extensively on sex cord tumors in both gonads. At a FIGO meeting in 1961 Dr Santesson played a major role in formulating the first organized classification of the surface epithelial-stromal tumors of the ovary and also promoted the endometrioid carcinoma as a special variant of ovarian cancer. In a career spanning over 50 years, Dr Scully was the architect of the modern classification of ovarian tumors being the driving force behind the influential 1973 World Health Organization classification of them. His many original observations have touched upon virtually all categories of ovarian tumor pathology. His second series fascicle 'Tumors of the Ovaries and Maldeveloped Gonads' utilized the WHO classification and presented a lucid elaboration of his by then vast experience with ovarian tumors. All the above have left a rich legacy which those who follow in their path will be challenged to equal.

A brief history of the pathology of the gonads

Our understanding of gonadal pathology has reached its current state as a result of the contributions of numerous outstanding investigators. Knowledge of testicular tumor pathology dates back to the great British workers Percival Pott and Sir Astley Cooper but the single greatest early stride was made with the description in 1906 by the French urologist Maurice Chevassu of the seminoma. The seminal 1946 paper of Nathan B Friedman and Robert A Moore, which segregated out as a distinct entity embryonal carcinoma, is, however, the foundation for the current classification of testicular tumors. In that year Pierre Masson described the distinctive neoplasm, the spermatocytic seminoma. The 1950s saw the publication of an important paper by Frank J Dixon and Dr Moore and they also wrote the first series fascicle on testicular tumors. In this same timeframe, and thereafter, Robert E Scully made significant contributions to testicular pathology, writing the first English language paper on spermatocytic seminoma, describing several subtypes of sex cord tumor, and also the distinctive lesion of intersex, the gonadoblastoma, as well as playing a major role in 1980 in formulating the current classification of premalignant lesions of the testis. The current classification of testicular tumors was arrived at in the early 1970s when the World Health Organization, under the leadership of Dr FK Mostofi, who himself made notable contributions to testicular pathology, devised what is fundamentally the current classification of neoplasms of the male gonad. Although comments on ovarian pathology were made by such legendary figures of earlier times as Giovanni Battista Morgagni and Matthew Baillie, it is only in the mid to later years of the 19th century that contributions, mostly in Europe, began to move knowledge of ovarian pathology to its current state. Thomas Hodgkin, Richard Bright, and Sir James Paget all wrote extensively on ovarian neoplasms. In 1870, Heinrich Waldeyer, and later in that century, another German, Hermann Johannes Pfannenstiel wrote important papers on the surface epithelial tumors. The latter was likely the first to refer to neoplasms now known as of ‘borderline malignancy' and also wrote on pseudomyxoma peritonei and other topics. Their work was followed by that of Robert Meyer who made monumental contributions to gynecological pathology, including recognizing the Brenner tumor as a distinctive neoplasm and proposing the first classification of Sertoli–Leydig cell tumors (arrhenoblastomas). He also coined the term ‘disgerminoma' (soon changed to dysgerminoma) for the ovarian tumor that had been described in detail by the French investigator Marcel Chenot 5 years after Chevassu had mentioned the tumor in his paper describing the seminoma. During the Meyer era other significant contributions were made by, among others, Howard C Taylor writing on the borderline tumors and John A Sampson writing on endometriosis and tumors, associated with it. In the second-half of the 20th century major contributions were made by Gunnar Teilum of Denmark and Lars Santesson of Sweden. Dr Teilum delineated the morphologic features of the yolk sac tumor and noted the resemblance of papillary formations within it to the endodermal sinuses of the rat placenta. He also wrote extensively on sex cord tumors in both gonads. At a FIGO meeting in 1961 Dr Santesson played a major role in formulating the first organized classification of the surface epithelial–stromal tumors of the ovary and also promoted the endometrioid carcinoma as a special variant of ovarian cancer. In a career spanning over 50 years, Dr Scully was the architect of the modern classification of ovarian tumors being the driving force behind the influential 1973 World Health Organization classification of them. His many original observations have touched upon virtually all categories of ovarian tumor pathology. His second series fascicle ‘Tumors of the Ovaries and Maldeveloped Gonads' utilized the WHO classification and presented a lucid elaboration of his by then vast experience with ovarian tumors. All the above have left a rich legacy which those who follow in their path will be challenged to equal.

British workers “prefer to dress up rather than dress down”

British workers “prefer to dress up rather than dress down”

Bladder tumours in rubber workers: a factory study 1946-1995.

Prior to December 1949, some British rubber industry workers were inadvertently exposed to the human bladder carcinogen beta-naphthylamine, which was present as a contaminant (at 0.25%) in antioxidants used in manufacturing. This study follows a composite cohort of 6450 men employed at a large tyre factory either during the 'at-risk' period or just after it. A group of 2090 at-risk men (employed 1945-1949) and 3038 men, first employed only after January 1950, when the carcinogen had been removed, were followed for their bladder cancer morbidity and mortality experiences. Fifty-eight tumours were registered for those at risk, whereas only 33.9 were expected at national standardized registration rates [SRRN = 171 and 95% confidence interval (CI) = 130-221]. Thirty-nine bladder tumours were reported for the post-1950 intake, whereas 38.3 were expected (SRRN = 102 and 95% CI = 72-139). The use of mortality data did not reveal any underlying hazard because 12 of the 58 at-risk workers with tumours were still alive at the study end date. In only 16 instances was bladder cancer actually certified as the underlying cause of death. Plotting cases by their location of work on a factory plan assisted the interpretation. A statistically significant elevated risk of bladder cancer for the exposed workforce was evident, but this reversed when the carcinogen was removed from processing in October 1949. The use of morbidity (incidence) data in long-term studies of occupational bladder cancer should be the required methodology if the hazard and risk are not to be underestimated.

RESPONSE: Re: Extended Follow-up of a Cohort of British Chemical Workers Exposed to Formaldehyde

RESPONSE: Re: Extended Follow-up of a Cohort of British Chemical Workers Exposed to Formaldehyde

The Meaning of Militancy? Postal Workers and Industrial Relations

This title was first published in 2003.This book explores many of the major issues of concern to researchers studying trade unionism. It offers: a definition, elaboration and contextualisation of militancy (industrial, union and worker); an examination of the relationship between workplace unionism and the wider body of the union; a study of factionalism and industrial and political consciousness: and an analysis of the construction and mobilisation of conflict and cooperation (social partnership). These themes are considered through examining the relatively militant response of British postal workers to increased commercialisation of their industry. By comparing this response to that of postal workers in nine other major industrial countries, the study provides an explanation of why UK postal workers have been relatively successful in resisting new management techniques and privatisation through militancy and oppositionalism. One aspect given particular attention is the uneasy relationship within the postal workers' union between shop floor militancy and the social partnership approach followed by the union's leadership.

Fly Me to the Moon: The Determinants of Secondary Jobholding in Germany and the UK

This paper analyzes the determinants of secondary jobholding in Germany and the UK. Although differing in labor market regulations, moonlighting is a persistent phenomenon in both countries. Using panel data from the BHPS and the SOEP, reduced form participation equations are estimated for male and female workers separately. While the results vary across gender and countries, there is support for both main theoretical strands, i.e. the 'hours-constraints' motive as well as the 'heterogeneous-jobs' motive. In particular, there is evidence that particularly German workers who would like to work more hours are more likely to have a second job. On the other hand, the prospect of starting a new job is associated with moonlighting behavior of mainly British workers.

Attitudes, Expectations and Sharing

Forward Links to Citing Articles Apology. Labour 19:4 801. Online publication date: 16‐Dec‐2005. Abstract. We explore the relationship between performance‐related pay and the attitudes and expectations of a representative sample of British workers. Our results suggest that employees who participate in productivity‐linked bonus schemes, discretionary bonus schemes, share ownership or profit sharing are more optimistic about future employment and pay and are generally more satisfied with their work environment. However, employees participating specifically in profit‐sharing schemes are less likely to work as hard as they can, ceteris paribus. This is an intriguing finding, insinuating as it does that group‐sharing schemes are unable to rout the temptation to free ride and thereby ensure a first best cooperative equilibrium.