Work

Involuntary disputes: When competition for members forces smaller unions to strike

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Industrial relations theory has produced two conflicting hypotheses on the effects of multi-unionism on the incidence of industrial conflict. International comparative research proposes that unions organizing the same worker domains are prone to competition, for which industrial conflict is used as a means of propaganda. British economic research claims that unions organizing substitutable workers cooperate and act as one union. This study argues that apparent cooperation is not always voluntary action but is sometimes the result of a loss of autonomy caused by competition and a lack of mobilization power. Micro-level data on industrial action are used to test hypotheses of the conditions for such involuntary participation in labor disputes.

Source: Rationality and Society

DOI: 10.1177/1043463114546312

Author: Agnes Akkerman

Institutions: Radboud University Nijmegen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Labor Movements and Unions

Subfield: Public Administration

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: green

Funder: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek