There is a need to open out the debate on the Conservative government's employment policy, to move away from thematic analysis of the legislation of the 1980s and to pay more attention to the 'wellsprings' of the Conservative government's 'reform' of industrial relations since 1979. Where...

Since 1979, the Conservative government in the UK has introduced wide-ranging and detailed regulations for the conduct of union internal affairs; a number of other Western industrialized countries have not done so (or have not done so to the same extent) but have continued their tradition of...

During the 1980s the Conservative government argued that trade unions' leaders and policies did not accurately reflect the views of their members. Accordingly, the Trade Union Act 1984 required that all voting members of union principal executive committees be periodically elected by individual...

Firstly, the method and scope of research is outlined, secondly, distinctions are made between merging unions, thirdly, the reasons for merging and the kinds of advantages sought by the major merging unions are considered and, fourthly, the continuing research into the consequences of mergers...

This article outlines Conservative legislation on union government, documenting extensive regulation in place by 1994. It looks at the major objectives of government policy, including the twin themes of encouraging individualism and reducing union power. The degree of success achieved is...

The paper analyses the legislation upon union government enacted by Conservative Governments since 1979 and discusses possible criteria for evaluating its success or otherwise.

This is the second of two linked articles on the question of union autonomy; the first appeared in the previous issue of this journal. It considers state control and approach to union autonomy in the wider context of state controls on unions' bargaining activities including industrial action....

This review of 1998 focuses on the proposed industrial relations settlement. It first sets the context in which the settlement was being promoted; second, considers the framework of the law that such a settlement would establish; and third, in conclusion, asks what the new legal framework...

Since 1990 there has been a series of union amalgamations among Britain’s public-sector unions. This study examines three amalgamations and one aborted amalgamation. Each was initiated by union leaders reacting to government-sponsored reforms of the public sector, and all involved unions with...

Union mergers in Britain are dominated numerically by transfers of engagements from minor unions to major unions. Just five major or acquiring unions were responsible for absorbing 79% of all transfers to TUC affiliated unions between 1978 and 1994. This study establishes the extent of this...