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Trade unions and the challenge of fostering solidarities in an era of financialisation

Author

Listed:
  • Jo Grady

    (Sheffield University Management School, University of Sheffield, UK)

  • Melanie Simms

    (Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, UK)

Abstract

This articles re-examines evidence that trade unions in the UK have struggled to renew themselves despite considerable investment of time and effort. It argues that financialisation in the realms of capital accumulation, organisational decision making and everyday life has introduced new barriers to building the solidarities within and between groups of workers that would be necessary to develop a stronger response to the catastrophic effects on labour of financialisation in general, and the financial crisis specifically. The crisis highlighted the weaknesses of trade unions as institutions of economic and industrial democracy, but has also given some opportunities to establish narratives of solidarity in spaces and platforms created within a financialised context.

Suggested Citation

  • Jo Grady & Melanie Simms, 2019. "Trade unions and the challenge of fostering solidarities in an era of financialisation," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 40(3), pages 490-510, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:40:y:2019:i:3:p:490-510
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X18759792
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ricardo Barradas, 2025. "Why are (financialised) workers becoming more resigned and conformist and less claimant? Empirical evidence from Portugal," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(4), pages 910-941, November.
    2. Giorgos Gouzoulis & Collin Constantine & Joseph Ajefu, 2023. "Economic and political determinants of the South African labour share, 1971–2019," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(1), pages 184-207, February.

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