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The Persistence of Union Membership within the Coalfields of Britain

Author

Listed:
  • Beynon, Huw

    (Cardiff University)

  • Blakely, Helen

    (Cardiff University)

  • Bryson, Alex

    (University College London)

  • Davies, Rhys

    (Cardiff University)

Abstract

Spatial variance in union membership has been attributed to the favourable attitudes that persist in areas with an historical legacy of trade unionism. Within the UK, villages and towns located in areas once dominated coalmining remain among the strongest and durable bases for the trade union movement. This paper empirically examines the effect of living within or near these areas upon union membership. Those residing in ex-mining areas retain an increased propensity for union membership. However, this effect diminishes sharply with distance. The analysis reveals that particular places can serve as conduits of trade unionism, long after employment within traditional industries has vanished.

Suggested Citation

  • Beynon, Huw & Blakely, Helen & Bryson, Alex & Davies, Rhys, 2020. "The Persistence of Union Membership within the Coalfields of Britain," IZA Discussion Papers 13615, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huw Beynon & Rhys Davies & Steve Davies, 2012. "Sources of variation in trade union membership across the UK: the case of Wales," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 200-221, May.
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    9. Jonathan E. Booth & John W. Budd & Kristen M. Munday, 2010. "Never Say Never? Uncovering the Never‐Unionized in the United States," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(1), pages 26-52, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Harald Dale-Olsen, 2021. "Do unions contribute to creative destruction?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-23, December.
    2. A. Ricci & S. Scicchitano & M. Conti & G. Cardullo & G. Sulis, 2022. "On the Emergence of Cooperative Industrial and Labor Relations," Working Paper CRENoS 202201, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    3. Giannakopoulos, Nicholas & Nicolitsas, Daphne, 2022. "Employers' associations and trade unions: co-existence or more?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1140, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. David Etherington & Bob Jeffery & Peter Thomas & Martin Jones & Ben Ledger‐Jessop, 2023. "Trade union strategies to tackle labour market insecurity: Geography and the role of Sheffield TUC," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(3), pages 261-277, May.
    5. Lucy Grimshaw & Lewis Mates, 2022. "‘It’s part of our community, where we live’: Urban heritage and children’s sense of place," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(7), pages 1334-1352, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    spill-over; spatial variance; union membership; coalmining;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects

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