Negotiating Amalgamations: Territorial and Political Consolidation and Administrative Reform in Public‐Sector Service Unions in the UK

Abstract

Since 1990 there has been a series of union amalgamations among Britain's public-sector unions. This study examines three amalgamations and one aborted amalgamation. Each was initiated by union leaders reacting to government-sponsored reforms of the public sector, and all involved unions with either defensive or consolidatory merger motivations. The complex negotiations are presented as resolving issues of political, democratic and administrative concerns. It is argued that the balance of power on critical constitutional issues lay with the leaders of the consolidatory unions, particularly the dominant activist groups within such unions. As a consequence, success in amalgamation negotiations lay in satisfying such group's interests in sustaining the existing political ethos and democratic system, while securing agreement on the desired administrative reforms.

Restructuring as a reaction to growing pressure on trade unionism: the case of the Austrian OGB

“…The discussion of restructuring in Austrian trade unions has shown that in some cases there may be a combination of motives leading restructuring within one union, and the classification of the motivations behind an activity as either purely defensive or purely consolidatory is not possible. This is quite a common feature of classifications and can also be observed in the description of empirical cases by Undy (1999).…”

“…Undy et al . (1981; see also Undy, 1999) categorise the motivations of merging unions into defensive, consolidatory and aggressive. Defensive unions are in a difficult situation, usually with declining membership and in a deteriorating financial position.…”

“…(2004) and by Undy et al . (1981)/Undy (1999 differ most in the respect that each of them contains one category that is not included in the other. Apart from that, they show large similarities.…”

Organizational Transformation Towards Industry Unionism in South Korea

“…mergers, amalgamation and other restructuring like industry unionization) can be explained by major environmental factors, such as changes in economic and industrial structures, the rearrangements of institutional frameworks, and political power shifts. At the same time, the strategic capability of unions is no less significant in initiating and managing the process of organizational transformation than those environmental factors, since any change in structure is a matter of strategic choice by the unions (Undy, 1992). In recent years, many unions in Western countries have undertaken an initiative to merge with other unions or transform their existing structure.…”

Industry Change and Union Mergers in British Retail Finance

“…Undy 1999). But do they adequately explain how union merger is achieved between traditionally competitive institutions operating with distinctive models of representation founded on incompatible values?…”