Ian Fitzgerald

'Thinking outside the box'? : Trade union organizing strategies and Polish migrant workers in the United Kingdom

This article focuses on the responses of British trade unions to the arrival of Polish workers since the 2004 enlargement of the European Union. It is argued that existing definitions and explanations of UK trade union engagement with migrant workers do not capture the strategies that have been used to engage with these migrant workers. We suggest that there have been two sets of responses. First, recruitment and organization activity has centred on inclusion and has been undertaken on new terrains using innovative strategies. Second, we point to the importance of new linkages locally, regionally, nationally and internationally in organizing these new labour market entrants.

Post-accession migration in construction and trade union responses in Denmark, Norway and the UK

The article compares trade union responses in Denmark, Norway and the UK to the arrival of construction workers from the new EU member states. Organizing has been seen as a crucial means to avoid low-wage competition and social dumping. We analyse how the unions developed strategies for recruiting migrants, the novelty of their approaches and the results in terms of membership.

Negotiating ‘solidarity’ and internationalism : the response of Polish trade unions to migration

In the context of massive outward migration after Polands accession to the EU in 2004, this article explores the possibilities for cross-border collaboration by Polish trade unions. The findings are based on interviews with the two main trade union/trade union federations, Solidarity and Ogolnopolskie Porozumnie Związkow Zawodowych: All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions, at national, regional and sectoral levels. Examining the issues and challenges faced by Polish trade unions in terms of loss of membership and social capital, the article also evaluates the significance of Polands status as a country of some inward migration. It is argued that cross-border trade union collaboration has become an even more urgent project as the economic crisis intensifies competition in the labour market and increases the potential for xenophobia.

A slow burning flame? Organisational change and industrial relations in the fire service

The process of organisational change in the public sector has led to a restructuring of the employment relationship in a context of budgetary constraints, the introduction of performance indicators and the development of new management strategies. The pace of change has been uneven and mediated by service cultures that have been resistant to innovation. Our case study of a metropolitan fire brigade explores these issues and suggests that financially driven organisational change has a major impact on industrial relations and that trade union organisation rooted in workplace culture can provide a significant challenge to restructuring.

The death of corporatism? Managing change in the fire service

Purpose – To demonstrate how government policy on fires service reform was initially challenged by a stubbornly resistant fire service corporatism but finally dismantled following the 2003 fire service White Paper.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on longitudinal case study data that includes 50 semi‐structured interviews with key fire service personnel at regional and national levels.Findings – This paper examines the roots of corporatism at national and local levels and demonstrates how the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) had significant levels of influence on management decision‐making. This was strongly reflected in the key role of the FBU in the industrial relations process that enabled the union to protect “entrenched” working practices. However, at a local level longstanding corporatist partnerships began to break down as a financial crisis arose and management took a more proactive approach. Corporatist structures at a national level, though, remained and it was not until the Labour gover...

The Politics of Language and European Works Councils: Towards a Research Agenda

This article considers key questions of control relating to language support for European Works Councils (EWCs). The degree of support for interpreting and translation, flexibility in the working language(s) and training provision can all have a considerable impact on the ability of transnational worker representatives to develop a workable communications framework. An analysis of the pattern of language provision confirms English as the lingua franca in EWCs. Preliminary findings on the way EWC delegates handle communication across language barriers suggest some pointers for future research into what may be a crucial variable in the development of transnational industrial relations.

Coming to Terms with Quality: UNISON and the Restructuring of Local Government

The authors argument is that current quality initiatives are managerially driven and coincide with the development of so-called ‘new right’ politics in the public sector. They criticize those those who argue that quality is simply imposed on a quiescent workforce and suggest instead that the process is mediated through workers and their representatives. They use case study evidence from a local authority to analyse trade union responses and locate this within a discussion of the ‘union renewal’ thesis.

Polish Migrant Workers in the North — New Communities, New Opportunities?

In May 2004 the UK Government opened up its labour market to workers from the European Union (EU) accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe.’ The extent of migration has taken all by surprise and has had a significant impact upon the UK labour market. Establishing the actual numbers of migrants involved has caused a sense of vexation at both a national and local government level. Although, Salt and Millar (2006, p. 335) identify the Poles as constituting the largest ever single wave ethnic group to enter the UK. Significant here, is that many Polish workers are employed in low wage work in sectors such as food processing (Border and Immigration Agency, 2007). Further, given their numbers it is not surprising to find these workers also spread into other areas of the labour market.

European Works Councils: representing workers on the periphery

This article presents the results of a survey of European Works Council (EWC) delegates in multinational companies in the North East of England. It uses empirical data from a postal questionnaire and interviews with all regional representatives to analyse the key issue of employee representation. The authors argue that EWC representation is inextricably linked with corporate organisation and that this creates significant problems in a region such as the North East where a “peripheral” economy is particularly sensitive to the rapid restructuring of multinational capital. The analysis is developed in a context of closure and divestment and explores the questions of how EWC delegates are selected; their ability to “report back” to those they might be said to represent and the problems of working across national boundaries.

Like taking coals to Newcastle: A new era for trade unionism in the North East of England?

Behind the News focuses on trade unionism in the North East, discussing changes in employment and skill levels and the detrimental impact this has had on the workplace and on trade union membership. Developing the discussion, it identifies recent activity undertaken by unions and the Northern TUC to strengthen both the effectiveness of regional trade union institutions and grassroots participation and membership. The catalyst for this has been the (re) emergence of union interest in learning and skills, and the innovative way that union learning reps and the learning and skills agenda have been used to provide an opportunity to renew workplace and governance engagement.