This paper reports results from a recent survey we conducted on the union status of over 650firms in the private sector of the UK. Compared to earlier periods, the survey shows that since 1997 there hasbeen a slight fall in derecognition, but a relatively large increase in union recognition. Almost 11% of firmsreport experiencing some new recognition, whilst 7% reported some derecognition. In the late 1980s newrecognitions among similar firms were much lower (3% between 1985 to 1990 according to Gregg and Yates,1991). In our survey, new recognitions were more prevalent in larger firms and in regions and industries whereunion membership was already high. New recognitions were less likely to have occurred in companies withhigher wages, higher productivity and higher capital intensity. The 'blip up' in new recognitions is consistentwith the idea that the incoming Labour government had a positive effect on the ability of unions to gainrecognition, either through the 1999 legislation or more indirectly through changing the political climate.
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Paper provided by Centre for Economic Performance, LSE in its series CEP Discussion Papers with number
dp0685.
Find related papers by JEL classification: J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
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Blanchflower, David G & Millward, Neil & Oswald, Andrew J, 1991.
"Unionism and Employment Behaviour,"
Economic Journal,
Royal Economic Society, vol. 101(407), pages 815-34, July.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
David Card & Richard B. Freeman, 2004.
"What Have Two Decades of British Economic Reform Delivered?,"
NBER Chapters,
in: Seeking a Premier Economy: The Economic Effects of British Economic Reforms, 1980-2000, pages 9-62
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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