Union administrative practices: A comparative analysis

Abstract

In response to growing challenges, many labor organizations are reevaluating themselves in an effort to become more efficient and effective. Their efforts, however, are limited by their frames of reference. Seldom do unions compare practices across labor movements. To expand these frames of reference we compare union administrative practices in three countries: Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Two specific areas of union administration are examined -human resource/personnel practices and strategic planning. Results from these countries are presented and analyzed to identify and explain similarities and differences.

How Do Shop Stewards Perceive Their Situation and Tasks? Preconditions for Support of Union Work

“…In addition, unions have to be committed to ever increasing demands on organisational effectiveness. This has necessitated new union strategies and long-term planning (Sandberg et al, 1992;Clark et al, 1998). In Sweden, The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) organises approximately two million blue-collar workers and is thereby the largest national union organisation.…”

The Political Effects of Accounting Normalization on Trade Unions: An Analysis of Financial Transparency Reform in France

“…Following on from these studies, other research has looked at the management of unions (Clark et al . ; Warner ) and ways to improve their organizational performance (for example, the abundant literature on mergers or restructurings of unions). However, the question of the means that union organizations adopt to rationalize and improve their functioning, such as accounting norms, is most frequently treated according to a purely instrumental logic that presumes management tools are neutral and non‐political, and that the sole question is about how to evaluate their efficiency.…”

Administrative Practices in American Unions: A Longitudinal Study

“…Anecdotal evidence of changing practices in national unions (Clark 1992;Gray 1995) led to our 1990 survey to assess administrative practices in national unions (Clark and Gray 1992;Clark et al 1998). The survey was repeated in 2000.…”