scholarly journals Unions and Information, Britain 1900–1960: An Essay in the History of Information

1999 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair Mutch
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Occupational Change ◽  
British Trade ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Information ◽  
Union History

This article examines the use of information by British trade unions to react to occupational change. Using a case study of the response to welding by the Boilermakers' Society, it looks at the barriers that prevented the use of information. It then examines the rise of trade union research departments. This leads to an outline of a framework for looking at the ways in which trade unions used information, based on their attitude towards their environment. The article suggests that an “information perspective” is a useful supplement to existing ways of examining trade union history which may shed new light on their development.

A study in British Trade Union history. Attempts at ‘General Union’ 1829—1834

1938 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 359-462
Author(s):  
G. D. H. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Mass Movement ◽  
Good Deal ◽  
Early History ◽  
Working Classes ◽  
Trade Unionism ◽  
British Trade ◽  
Dramatic Rise ◽  
History Of ◽  
Union History

The best-known episode in the early history of Britsh Trade Unionism is the dramatic rise and fall of the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union in 1833—1834. Robert Owen's sudden emergence as the leader of a mass movement reported to number a million adherents, the trial and transportation of the unfortunate ‘Tolpuddle Martyrs’ for the crime of administering unlawful oaths, the presentation of the ‘document’ demanding renunciation of Trade Union membership by masters in many parts of the country, and the complete eclipse of the Grand National within a year of its first foundation, make a story which has been told many times with effect, and does not need telling over again. But though this particular story is well-known, there is a good deal that remains obscure in Trade Union history both during this critical year and, still more, during the few previous years when the idea of an all-embracing ‘General Union of Trades’ was taking hold of one section after another of the British working classes.

British Trade Union Law Since the Trade Disputes and Trade Union Act of 1927

1932 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-351
Author(s):  
Edwin E. Witte
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Trade Disputes ◽  
British Trade ◽  
American Interest ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
History Of ◽  
Entire History ◽  
The Subject

Judging from articles on the subject, American interest in British trade union law has been considerable, but spasmodic. Every important decision or statute affecting the legal status of the British trade unions has been followed by articles on this side of the Atlantic outlining the entire history of the British law of labor combinations and attempting to forecast the outcome of the most recent developments. Between times, the subject has not been discussed and no one has presented the actual results of the heralded developments. The Trade Disputes and Trade Union Act of 1927 is the most recent of these developments noted in this country.

scholarly journals Colliery Deputies in the British Coal Industry Before Nationalization

1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Ackers
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Coal Industry ◽  
National Union ◽  
Labour Movement ◽  
Labour Process ◽  
History Of ◽  
First Time ◽  
Union History

SummaryThis article challenges the militant and industrial unionist version of British coal mining trade union history, surrounding the Miners' Federation of Great Britain and the National Union of Mineworkers, by considering, for the first time, the case of the colliery deputies' trade union. Their national Federation was formed in 1910, and aimed to represent the three branches of coal mining supervisory management: the deputy (or fireman, or examiner), overman and shotfirer. First, the article discusses the treatment of moderate and craft traditions in British coal mining historiography. Second, it shows how the position of deputy was defined by changes in the underground labour process and the legal regulation of the industry. Third, it traces the history of deputies' union organization up until nationalization in 1947, and the formation of the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS). The article concludes that the deputies represent a mainstream tradition of craft/professional identity and industrial moderation, in both the coal industry and the wider labour movement.

scholarly journals Organising to beat the Trade Union Act (2016) voting thresholds: a case study of organising and tactics from the University and College Union

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Richards ◽  
Vaughan Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
College Union ◽  
The University ◽  
Further Development

PurposeA retrospective action-research case study of one branch of the University and College Union (UCU) is used to show how threshold requirements of the Act can be systematically beaten.Design/methodology/approachThe paper responds to calls for “best practice” on how trade unions may react to member voting threshold requirements of the Trade Union Act 2016 (the Act). A broader aim is to make a theoretical contribution related to trade union organising and tactics in “get the vote out” (GTVO) industrial action organising campaigns.FindingsFindings are presented as a lead organiser's first-hand account of a successful GTVO campaign contextualised in relation to theories of organising. The findings offer “best practice” for union organisers required to beat the Act's voting thresholds and also contribute to theories surrounding trade union organising tactics.Research limitations/implicationsFurther development and adaptation of the proposed model may be required when applied to larger bargaining units and different organising contexts.Practical implicationsThe findings can inform the organising practices/tactics of trade unions in relation to statutory ballots. The findings also allow Human Resource (HR) practitioners to reflect on their approach to dealing with unions capable of mounting successful GTVO campaigns.Social implicationsThe findings have the potential to collectively empower workers, via their trade unions, to defend and further their interests in a post-financial crisis context and in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThis is the first known empirical account of organising to exceed voting thresholds of the Act, providing practical steps for union organisers in planning for statutory ballots. Further value lies in the paper's use of a novel first-hand account of a GTVO campaign, offering a new and first, theoretical model of organising tactics to beat the Act.

Community unionism: looking backwards, looking forwards

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie Mayo ◽  
Pilgrim Tucker ◽  
Mat Danaher
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Shared Values ◽  
Mutual Trust ◽  
History Of ◽  
Development Workers ◽  
Community Unionism ◽  
Contemporary Context

The importance of building alliances based upon shared community and trade union interests is a theme with resonances from the history of community development, both in Britain and beyond. This chapter starts by summarising the lessons from previous approaches to building such alliances. The issues arising have even more relevance for community development workers in the contemporary context, the chapter argues, drawing on the findings from the authors’ work by way of illustration. The chapter then moves on to explore the experiences of the two largest trade unions in Britain: UNITE and UNISON. Both have their successes to share. Both have also faced challenges, however, illustrating some of the tensions inherent in building alliances between organisations and movements with differing histories and cultures. The chapter concludes by summarising the implications for building solidarity and developing alliances based upon mutual trust and understanding, rooted in shared values for social justice.

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