Bringing the community in: possibilities for public sector union success through community unionism

Tattersall, Amanda

doi:10.1504/ijhrdm.2006.010394

Cited by 23 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…We instead argue that it is possible for labor organizations to use corporatism and corporatist themes to increase their membership, visibility, and power. An example of this is Tattersall's (2006) case study of the New South Wales (NSW) Teacher's Federation, which waged a highly successful public relations and community coalition building campaign. Instead of waiting for their membership to increase before entering the national sphere, the NSW Teacher's Federation gained public support and recognition through media campaigns and earned a voice in legislation and school curriculum decisions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Union Decline in 18 OECD Countries and their Implications for Labor Movement Reform

Sano

2008

International Journal of Comparative Sociology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, researchers have given much attention to union density decline in industrialized countries. While several have asked whether this decline can be attributed to specifi c economic, social, or institutional causes, few have provided concrete suggestions about how cross-national studies in this genre can inform efforts that seek to reverse this decline in the United States. This study uses cross-sectional time-series analysis of a pooled sample of 18 OECD countries from 1980 to 2005 to consider the effect of the business cycle, domestic institutions, globalization, and strike activity on union density. We identify interaction with the variable 'Traditional Union Density' and utilize fi ndings on corporatism, collective bargaining, globalization, and infl ation to make suggestions for those working to reverse union decline in the US.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Union Decline in 18 OECD Countries and their Implications for Labor Movement Reform

Sano

2008

International Journal of Comparative Sociology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…15-19;Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU, 1999, pp. 39-41)), there is now a growing debate about it (Ellem, 2003;Rainnie and Drummond, 2006;Tattersall, 2006Tattersall, , 2007Buttigieg et al, 2007). Here, as elsewhere, there is no agreement about what exactly the term means.…”

Section: Community and Unionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In doing so it does not overlook the relationships in which unions are enmeshed at other scales. The paper begins by briefly examining the terms "community" and "community unionism" themselves (see Tattersall, 2006; also this volume). It goes on to show in detail how a historically-informed spatial analysis might shape any study of unions and community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contested communities: geo‐histories of unionism

Ellem

2008

Journal of Organizational Change Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeDespite being increasingly touted as the kind of fundamental transformation needed for union survival, “community unionism” is typically ill‐defined and poorly explained. This paper seeks to provide greater precision of terminology and context through a series of geographically‐informed historical studies.Design/methodology/approachThrough explaining and synthesising the work of a number of scholars from different disciplines, the paper develops a framework for a “geo‐historical” analysis. It begins not with community unionism as such but with a more open exploration of the relationship between unions and social formations at, for the most part, the local scale. Empirical material, based on original qualitative studies, is presented for one industry, Australian mining, across different places and time periods but concentrating most upon the iron ore regions in Western Australia where recent struggles over union renewal and form have been particularly intense.FindingsThis paper argues two things about community unionism: that this union form is not without historical antecedents and, more importantly, that its structure, nature and prospects can be better understood if analysed through a number of concepts which geographers have recently developed to explore the intersections between work, community and employment relations. More needs to be done to explain not only the nature and emergence of community unionism but also the very real problems it faces in sustaining itself, let alone transforming union movements overall. The findings point to the varied forms which so‐called community unionism may take as well as to the challenges to its current forms, including from within the labour movement itself.Originality/valueThe value of the paper lies in its theoretical innovation, drawing on a range of disciplines, and its attempt to situate community unionism precisely – conceptually, historically and geographically.

show abstract

“…-TATTERSALL, A., School of Business, University of Sydney, amandatattersall@ gmail.com This article examines the broad trend of unions and community organizations working together, what I term community unionism (Tattersall, 2006c). Union relationships with community organizations have developed as a tactical response to declining union power and where employer hostility and anti-union laws are narrowing the capacity for traditional forms of union action.…”

Section: Powerful Community Relationships and Union Renewal In Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This relationship of trust may not only include formal equal participation, but the participation of individual bridge-builders who have experiences in both community organizations and unions, who can help translate contrasting organizational and cultural practices (Estabrook, Siqueira et al, 2000;Rose, 2000). A flat coalitional structure may assist the coalition participants to negotiate and share the power they bring to the table, for instance, maximizing the political and social power of community representatives combined with a union's capacity to exercise economic power (Fine, 2003;Tattersall, 2006c). Some argue that while a coalition structure is necessary, it is not sufficient.…”

Section: Deeply Engaged Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Powerful Community Relationships and Union Renewal in Australia

Tattersall

2007

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Terms such as labour-community coalitions, community unionism and social movement unionism are important features of current strategies for union renewal. This article develops a three-part framework of union-community relationships, from ad hoc to deeply engaged relationships. Criteria such as common interest, coalition structure, scale and union participation are identified as important variables for relationship variation and campaign success. The article explores the framework by analyzing three case studies from Sydney, Australia, involving the central labour council—Unions NSW. The paper argues that union-community relationships vary significantly; ad hoc relationships are useful to react to a crisis while deeper relationships are most useful to build a long-term agenda. Deeper relationships are supported when they are built alongside a process of internal union renewal. Deeper relationships are more successful if unions develop workplace leaders, support political union education and provide space for workplace stewards to connect to community campaigns.

show abstract

Bringing the community in: possibilities for public sector union success through community unionism

Cited by 23 publications

References 15 publications

Factors Affecting Union Decline in 18 OECD Countries and their Implications for Labor Movement Reform

Factors Affecting Union Decline in 18 OECD Countries and their Implications for Labor Movement Reform

Contested communities: geo‐histories of unionism

Powerful Community Relationships and Union Renewal in Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About