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The contents of partnership agreements in Britain 1990-2007

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Samuel

    (Nottingham University Business School, peter.samuel@nottingham.ac.uk)

  • Nicolas Bacon

    (Nottingham University Business School, nicholas.bacon@nottingham.ac.uk)

Abstract

This article assesses the contents of the majority of employer-union partnership agreements signed in Britain from 1990 to 2007. Few agreements contain the expected partnership principles and most express modest overall aims and limited ambition. Typical agreements are substantively hollow with more than one-third containing no substantive provisions; and procedurally biased, with more than four-fifths offering unions greater involvement in employers’ decisions. Partnership agreements continue the procedural bias of traditional British collective agreements representing the lowest common denominator of agreement — unions work towards the success of the enterprise in return for involvement in employers’ decisions. The implications for New Labour’s Third Way approach and the policy of encouraging voluntary partnership agreements to promote fairness at work are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Samuel & Nicolas Bacon, 2010. "The contents of partnership agreements in Britain 1990-2007," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(3), pages 430-448, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:24:y:2010:i:3:p:430-448
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017010371646
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abigail Marks & Patricia Findlay & James Hine & Paul Thompson & Alan McKinlay, 1998. "The Politics of Partnership? Innovation in Employment Relations in the Scottish Spirits Industry," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 36(2), pages 209-226, June.
    2. Nicholas Bacon & John Storey, 2000. "New Employee Relations Strategies in Britain: Towards Individualism or Partnership?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 38(3), pages 407-427, September.
    3. David E. Guest & Riccardo Peccei, 2001. "Partnership at Work: Mutuality and the Balance of Advantage," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 39(2), pages 207-236, June.
    4. Richard Hyman, 1997. "The Future of Employee Representation," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 35(3), pages 309-336, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andolfatto, Dominique & Labbé, Dominique, 2012. "The Future of the French Trade Unions," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 23(4), pages 323-340.
    2. Gall, Gregor, 2012. "Unions in Britain: Merely on the Margins or on the Cusp of a Comeback?," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 23(4), pages 323-340.

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