Trade Unionism in the United Kingdom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Trade Unionism in the United Kingdom - Essay Example This paper looks into the status of trade unionism in the United Kingdom from a cross-section of reports of trade unionists themselves who are also authorities on the subject, with some inputs of a unionist from a neighbouring union. All of them accept trade unionism in UK is declining but each qualifies what he means by "decline." Monks 6, however, is more of being non-committal about declination. Much categorical about UK unionism declination are Hyman7 and Gall,8 with the first at least hopeful for unions reclaiming a positive climb, and the latter more or less seeing a dim future for the unions. Finally, this paper looks into the possible role of UK trade unionism in employee relations. Decline of UK Trade unionism is perceived from many angles. If it were on terminal decline it would mean it is tapering off, concluding, finishing, and ending. Therefore, memberships in unions are expected to fall. As a manifestation of its terminal declination, unions would have no power at all, for example, in collective bargaining. With employers, they would have no political teeth to negotiate for better management practices. As presented from several reports on UK trade unionism, however, the end is not yet for the British unions although decline is more or less accepted as discussed in the following - Richard Hyman (2004).9 Hyman is professor of Industrial Relations at the London School of Economics. His main research interests are trade unions and industrial conflict. The author of many books on trade unionism, Hyman locates decline in the trade unions in strength and militancy. Among the sources mentioned here, it is Hyman who strongly states that the trade unions have indeed declined. Yet, hopeful as he is, he declares that unions can recapture misplaced identification of the worker with new world and new futures back to the union by being knowledgeable in the battle for ideas. He then proposes concepts which he declares are the strength of contemporary personnel managers that trade unions should begin to exploit. Gregor Gall (2005).10 Gall, a member of the Scottish Socialist Party and Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Hertfordshire says the contemporary decline of trade unionism in Britain is in the membership, bargaining power and political influence. Going beyond Hyman11 who sets his statements with a question mark, he is one authority who describes declination quantitatively. According to Gall, trade union density in 2004 was 28.8%, having previously been 55% in 1979. He asks, if social democracy is revived, could it provide a new source of politically inspired union activists Gall puts weight on the role of the activist who's energy has waned and ebbed and refuses to fight. According to him, the activist is the spirit behind unionism. Without the activist, unionism dies. Since the activist today has found his concerns in other things, unionism has weakened. As proof, he said, the Labour Representation Committee was launched a few years ago, but judged by the poor attendance at its annual conferences, and the number of affiliated organizations and local groups, revival does not seem to be making much headway. However,