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From the Webbs to the Web: The Contribution of the Internet to Reviving Union Fortunes

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  • Richard B. Freeman

Abstract

This paper shows that in the 2000s unions in the UK and US made innovative use of the Internet to deliver union services and move toward open source unions better suited for the modern world than traditional union structures. In contrast to analysts who see unions as being on an inexorable path of decline, I argue that these innovations are changing unions from institutions of the Webbs to institutions of the Web, which will improve their effectiveness and revive their role as the key worker organization in capitalism.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard B. Freeman, 2005. "From the Webbs to the Web: The Contribution of the Internet to Reviving Union Fortunes," NBER Working Papers 11298, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:11298
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    Cited by:

    1. Barry T. Hirsch, 2008. "Sluggish Institutions in a Dynamic World: Can Unions and Industrial Competition Coexist?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 22(1), pages 153-176, Winter.
    2. Alex Bryson & Richard Freeman, 2006. "What Voice Do British Workers Want?," CEP Discussion Papers dp0731, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Gemma Edwards, 2009. "Public sector trade unionism in the UK," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 23(3), pages 442-459, September.
    4. Louise Thornthwaite & Nikola Balnave & Alison Barnes, 2018. "Unions and social media: Prospects for gender inclusion," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 401-417, July.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General

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