Andy Hodder

Organising young workers in the Public and Commercial Services union

This article analyses the relationship between unions and young workers using the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union as a case study. PCS is leading the way in terms of engaging with and representing young workers. However, its future success may be limited due to changes to the external environment.

The essence of trade unions: understanding identity, ideology and purpose

Academics have long investigated trade union behaviour through the complex interaction of identity, ideology and purpose. At the same time, there have been increasing calls to gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of strategies but the two bodies of literature seldom overlap. The article proposes a framework to help understand the essence of trade unions and to situate strategies (such as organizing) in this broader context and bridge the gap between the literature on union purpose and identity and on strategies for renewal. It is argued that the essence of unions framework can assist with the analysis of both historical and contemporary trade unionism and allows both clarification and consideration of the range of concepts and terms already in use in the industrial relations literature.

Enhancing transnational labour solidarity: the unfulfilled promise of the Internet and social media

This article examines the activities of Union Solidarity International (USI), a new UK-based organisation in the international union arena. USI seeks to encourage and support international solidarity between trade unions and other worker movements around the world by harnessing the dynamism of the Internet and social media. Drawing on a combination of in-depth semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, Google Analytics and social media data, the findings of this case study suggest that USI is successfully developing an international audience in the United States, the UK and Ireland. However, USIs ability to reach beyond English-speaking countries and mobilise people to engage in collective action appears limited. The article makes an important contribution to the growing literature on social media in industrial relations through analysing the extent to which digital technologies can contribute to effective transnational labour solidarity.

Trade union participation in CSR deliberation: an evaluation

Whereas there has been considerable interest in the concept of political corporate social responsibility (CSR), trade unions have been largely omitted from such scholarly discussion. This article explores the potential of trade unions as the other in political CSR and the contribution of trade unions to deliberative democracy with the firm. We discuss the importance both of the legitimacy and the efficacy of the other in political CSR. We proceed to assess trade unions as legitimate and effective deliberative partners with the firm towards CSR, evaluating the contribution of trade unions to deliberative democracy and also the potential outcomes for trade unions in adopting this role.

Walking the tightrope: the imperatives of balancing control and autonomy for young worker groups

Despite the growing number of union initiatives to foster a new generation of activists through the development of youth networks, issues of control and autonomy still remain. This article explores these tensions by drawing on case studies of labor organizations in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings suggest that union support for young worker initiatives is crucial for resources and networks, particularly when these groups are newly formed and in need of mentoring and material assistance. Significant local autonomy, however, is also critical to sustain the interest and creative energy of young worker groups.

‘Old Dusty Men’? Young People and Trade Unions in the UK

The aim of this chapter is to provide an insight into the relationship between young workers and trade unions in the UK. As noted by Hodder and Kretsos (Introduction, this volume), it is largely accepted that young workers are less likely to be union members when compared to older workers, and there have been a number of academic studies into the reasons behind this. Existing literature groups these reasons into three categories — the changing nature of labour markets and increasing employer resistance to trade unionism, inefficiencies of unions to reform themselves and engage with more young people, and the attitudinal problems of young workers themselves (Waddington and Kerr, 2002). The way in which UK unions have tried to reverse this is discussed, whilst the rest of the chapter provides an insight into the Young Members’ Network (YMN) of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS). The methods used involved analysis of internal PCS documents and discussions with 20 (full-time and lay) officials from across the union at the union’s Annual Delegate Conference in May 2014 and the National Young Members Seminar in June 2014. Widely acknowledged as the most successful youth structure in contemporary UK unionism, the YMN has been subject to previous academic enquiry (Hodder, 2014) and the insights provided in this chapter complement this existing research.

Young Workers and Unions: Context and Overview

The transition of young people into employment is fraught with difficulties in finding stable and well-paid employment when compared to older workers. Young workers have been particularly affected by the wider changes in global economic conditions as such changes have seen an increase in employee insecurity and instability. Young workers predominantly carry out low-paid, low-status and insecure work and as their position in the labour market is increasingly precarious, one may expect them to join unions to get more protection. Nevertheless most remain disengaged from trade union activity and unions are suffering from a loss of members and an increasing ageing effect. In this context the future existence of trade unionism depends on to what extent trade unions can grasp the complex realities of young people at work. This edited collection aims to address these issues, providing examples from around the world.

Employment relations in the UK civil service

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to bring together two separate strands of the literature (politics and industrial relations) on civil service management and reform to enable consideration of the industrial relations implications of these changes. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is conceptual and has no empirical base. The paper is a general review of existing literature on the subject. Findings – The paper identifies the importance of historical legacy in both management and union behaviour in the civil service. By revisiting earlier civil service reforms, the reader is able to gain an understanding of the rationale for much of the current restructuring of the civil service. Additionally, any discussion of trade union behaviour should be located in the context of union tradition and evolution. Research limitations/implications – In being a general review, the paper does not report empirical evidence but instead provides the background for future research into civil service industrial relat...

Young and unionised in the UK? Insights from the public sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between trade unions and young workers in the UK using the Young Members’ Network of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – Findings are based on semi-structured interviews with 20 full-time officials and 39 lay officials of all ages, the collection and analysis of primary documents and observations at a range of union meetings. Findings – It is argued that PCS has developed a strong network of young activists and is leading the way in terms of engaging with and representing young workers. However, its success in the future may be limited due to changes to the external environment in which the union is trying to organise. Research limitations/implications – The research highlights the role of an under researched area of trade union membership. To provide additional insights, further research is needed into the practice of other unions. Originality/value – This paper provides significan...