The New Politics of British Trade Unionism

Marsh provides an authoritative analysis of the politics of British trade unionism in the 1990s and an assessment of the last decade's major changes in attitude, innovations in legislation, and adjustments in enforcement. He shows how unions were systematically excluded from the policy process. He also demonstrates how employers, provided with new opportunities for legal redress, have generally proved reluctant to use them. As a result, whatever shifts have taken place in the power...
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Marsh provides an authoritative analysis of the politics of British trade unionism in the 1990s and an assessment of the last decade's major changes in attitude, innovations in legislation, and adjustments in enforcement. He shows how unions were systematically excluded from the policy process. He also demonstrates how employers, provided with new opportunities for legal redress, have generally proved reluctant to use them. As a result, whatever shifts have taken place in the power balance between employers and unions have been largely the result of economic recession rather than political action. Much less has fundamentally changed in the day-to-day interactions than the Thatcher government had wished or expected. The New Politics of British Trade Unionism offers the most current introduction available to an understanding of the British trade union movement after Thatcher. Those interested in comparative labor law, industrial relations, and the European Economic Community will find this book essential reading.