Interest formation in greenfield union organising campaigns

Simms, M. (2007) Interest formation in greenfield union organising campaigns. Industrial Relations Journal, 38(5), pp. 439-454. (doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2338.2007.00457.x)

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Abstract

This article examines the processes by which unions come to express the interests of workers during organising campaigns. Evidence from five longitudinal cases shows the central importance of officials and organisers. Three key reasons for this are explored: the need for expert knowledge in organising campaigns, the fact that officials and organisers are well placed to identify and to construct common interests among a diversity of interest groups, and the fact that the training they receive explicitly encourages this role. Furthermore, it is argued that this helps explain some of the difficulties observed in organising campaigns specifically; the limitations of campaigns that primarily focus at workplace level, and the relatively narrow definition of collective interests that this approach encourages.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Simms, Professor Melanie
Authors: Simms, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
Journal Name:Industrial Relations Journal
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0019-8692
ISSN (Online):1468-2338
Published Online:10 August 2007

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