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Trade Union Organising in Private Sector Services : Findings from the British, Dutch and German retail industry

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  • Dribbusch, Heiner

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to take a closer look behind the curtain of low aggregate trade union densities in retail and to outline the major obstacles and problems trade union organising faces in the retail trades. Trade union organising and recruitment is analysed against the background of a 'two hurdle model of organising' (cf. Haas 2000, Dribbusch 2003) derived from explanations on trade union membership put forward by Green (1990) and Disney (1990). Within this framework the first hurdle to be taken is the establishment of a workplace presence as a precondition for any sustainable membership development. The second hurdle is then to convince the potential members in the workplace to join i.e. the recruitment.

Suggested Citation

  • Dribbusch, Heiner, 2005. "Trade Union Organising in Private Sector Services : Findings from the British, Dutch and German retail industry," WSI Working Papers 136, The Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), Hans Böckler Foundation.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wsidps:136
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/21580/1/p_wsi_diskp_136.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bob Mason & Peter Bain, 1993. "The Determinants of Trade Union Membership in Britain: A Survey of the Literature," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 46(2), pages 332-351, January.
    2. Kelly,John & Heery,Edmund, 1994. "Working for the Union," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521383202, August.
    3. Green, Francis, 1990. "Trade Union Availability and Trade Union Membership in Britain," The Manchester School of Economic & Social Studies, University of Manchester, vol. 58(4), pages 378-394, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lowell Turner, 2009. "Institutions and Activism: Crisis and Opportunity for a German Labor Movement in Decline," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(3), pages 294-312, April.
    2. Arianna Marcolin & Stefano Gasparri, 2024. "Digitalization and employment relations in the retail sector. Examining the role of trade unions in Italy and Spain," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 30(2), pages 151-178, June.

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