Trade union power in the 1990s : a case study.

The Conservative governments of 1979-1997 were determined to reduce
what they saw as "excessive union power". A succession of Employment
and Trade Union Acts designed to undermine collective organisation and
therefore trade union power were passed. The common perception tends
to be that trade union power has been severely curtailed; however, some
researchers suggest that very little has changed on the shopfloor. The main
aim of the research was to ascertain what trade union members thought
about the power of their trade unions. The focus of the study was on the
local and workplace union organisations of the ABEU and UNISON. The
research involved a case study approach. Data was obtained through the
use of observation, interviews, questionnaires and the analysis of
documentary evidence. It is concluded that trade union power is still a
reality in the 199Os, though that power may be looked upon differently
depending whether the focus is on unions at a national level or within the
workplace. National unions may have changed but workplace
organisations appear to remain much the same as they always have; some
workplace organisations are effective and others do not appear to be as
successful at achieving their aims. The success of workplace trade
unionism is dependent upon the personalities and styles of working of the
lay representatives. The legislation appears to have had little effect on
independent workplace union organisations, though claims that the
legislation had reduced trade union power appear to have been taken at face
value, even by union members. As long as effective lay representatives
are forthcoming there is no reason why unions at workplace level should
not continue protecting their members' interests well into the 21st century.