Union Mergers in Hard Times : The View from Five Countries

Gary N. Chaison

ISBN 10: 0801433304 / ISBN 13: 9780801433306

Published by Cornell University Press Nov 1996, 1996

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Union Mergers in Hard Times : The View from Five Countries
• Publisher: Cornell University Press Nov 1996
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801433304
• ISBN 13: 9780801433306
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 229W x 152H x 25D millimeters 229 millimeters width by 152 millimeters height by 25 millimeters depth
• Weight: 907 grams

About this title

Synopsis

The past fifteen years have been difficult for the labor movements in industrial countries. Gary N. Chaison addresses questions implicit in the decline of unions in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand: How and why do labor unions merge under pressure? What role do mergers play in the unions' strategies to deal with membership losses, management opposition, and hostile governments? Are there distinctive national profiles of union mergers?

Chaison begins by describing the dynamics of the union merger process as large unions combine with each other in amalgamations, as small unions are absorbed into larger ones, and as local unions affiliate into nationals. He discusses the reasons for mergers, the barriers to consolidation, and the problems of integration which may result. The five chapters that follow are arranged in order of increasing intensity in merger activity, ranging from the United States, where interest in mergers is growing, to New Zealand, where changing legislation has catalyzed an enormous wave of mergers.

For each of the five countries considered, Chaison characterizes the industrial relations climate and merger record since 1980, explains landmark mergers, identifies the antecedents, and assesses the chances that a sudden flood of mergers will occur. The final chapter compares the national profiles, extrapolating the significant differences and common threads. Chaison concludes that while mergers can play a critical role in revitalizing labor movements and building the dominant unions of the future, they are not necessarily solving the fundamental economic and political problems that plague unions.

About the Author

Gary Chaison is Professor of Industrial Relations at Clark University.