Understanding European Trade Unionism: Between Market, Class and Society - Softcover

Hyman, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761952217 ISBN 13: 9780761952213

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

`Everyone concerned over the construction of a truly social Europe will learn much from this thoughtful and probing study." - Professor Colin Crouch, Istituto Universitario Europeo

In this comprehensive overview of trade unionism in Europe and beyond, Richard Hyman offers a fresh perspective on trade union identity, ideology and strategy. He shows how the varied forms and impact of different national movements reflect historical choices on whether to emphasize a role as market bargainers, mobilizers of class opposition or partners in social integration. The book demonstrates how these inherited traditions can serve as both resources and constraints in responding to the challenges which confront trade unions in

About this title

Review

`Engaging and essential reading for those interested in the historical and recent evolution of trade union movements in Europe′ - Construction Labour Research

`The book combines theoretical analyses of trade unionism with short histories... is clearly written, well argued and largely jargon free′ - Labour History Review

`[A] detailed and fascinating history of trade unions in the three countries [Britain, German, Italy] and lastly, considers how the unions could recover from the intense disarray of recent years′ - Labour Research

`From a deeply reflective reconstruction of well over a century of national trade union experiences, Richard Hyman emerges with incisive questions for the European future. Can there be a co-ordinated diversity of trade union practice? How can a European trade unionism be built from below, rather than through top-down bureaucracies? Everyone concerned over the construction of a truly social Europe will learn much from this thoughtful and probing study′ - Professor Colin Crouch, Istituto Universitario Europeo

`Well written and jargon free, this highly original book makes an important theoretical contribution that broadens our perspectives

on Industrial Relations′ - George Strauss, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Industrial Relations, University of California, Berkeley

`This book provides a timely insight into organized labour in an increasingly capitalist world. Whether one agrees with Richard Hyman on a role for unions in post-modern societies is unimportant. This book asks all the pertinent questions that need to be asked by anyone curious about the future of trade unions in the twenty-first century. It provides a scholarly insight that begs reading by policy makers in labour, business and the government′ - Professor Anil Verma, Rotman School of Management and Centre for Industrial Relations, University of Toronto; Past-President, Canadian Industrial Relations Association.

`A very innovative study of trade unionism, whose overall development is powerfully portrayed while offering at the same time a brilliant analysis of distinct types to be found within Europe′ - Marino Regini, Facoltà di Scienze Politiche, Università degli Studi di Milano

From a deeply reflective reconstruction of well over a century of national trade union experiences, Richard Hyman emerges with incisive questions for the European future. Can there be a co-ordinated diversity of trade union practice? How can a European trade unionism be built from below, rather than through top-down bureaucracies? Everyone concerned over the construction of a truly social Europe will learn much from this thoughtful and probing study." - Professor Colin Crouch, Istituto Universitario Europeo

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0761952217
• ISBN 13: 9780761952213
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208