Non-unionised migrant workers in Britain: Evidence from the Labour Force Survey for a triple-challenge model

Abstract

This article employs Labour Force Survey data, using logistic regression modelling, to help rectify the lack of systematic analyses specifically into socioeconomic correlates of migrant workers’ unionisation in Britain. The results provide evidence to assist the development of comprehensive explanations for the obstacles behind migrant workers’ unionisation. The impediments analysed can be considered within what one might call a triple-challenge model comprising of (1) encounter inputs: demographic factors brought into the host society and citizenry rights offered by the host society to migrant workers; (2) accentuated structural factors: workplace characteristics, flexible work and migrant workers’ disproportionate location in less unionised companies with flexible contracts; and (3) knock-on effects: educational and occupational influences along with the impacts of encounter inputs and accentuated structural factors on such influences.

Overemployed migrant workers: Evidence from the Annual Population Survey for a ‘special model of gendered confidence’

“…Although there is a growing convergence between migrant workers and the rest, especially for the educational attainments required by the UK's point-system (Cam, 2014), it is worth considering their peculiarities, as detailed in what follows.…”

“…Establishments were first collapsed into three bands: small (< 50), medium (50-249) and large (≥ 250) companies (Forth et al, 2006). However, considering the high proportion of migrant workers in non-unionised small businesses with less than twenty employees (Cam, 2014), we separated them from the rest.…”

Non-Unionized Workers in British Green Sectors: Evidence From the Labor Force Survey*

“…Education refers to the highest qualification attained (Bird and Lawton, 2009;Cam, 2014). Occupation is compatible with their major level (singledigit) international classification.…”

“…On the one hand, rational choice theories, for example, argue that economic benefits are a substantial factor in union membership decisions. On the other Economics and Finance, 5(1), 2017, 1-15 2 hand, other discussions suggest that individuals' attitudes are affected by a large number of demographic and work-related factors (Cam, 2014).…”

Moving beyond the dichotomy of workplace and community unionism: The challenges of organising migrant workers in London’s hotels

“…Gendered constraints and male-dominated trade union structures, for instance, impact on women's engagement in unions as domestic and family duties diminish opportunities even for passive participation such as meeting attendance (Bayazit et al, 2004;Bradley, 1999;Holgate et al, 2006). Exclusion from citizenship rights (Cam, 2013) and/or dependence on a contract of employment for legal residence in the UK (Anderson, 2010) contribute to curtailing migrant workers' proclivity to unionisation. The combination of new migration patterns in the UK under the enlargement of the European Union (EU) and lack of union protection for the 'newly arrived' has further reduced the already weak bargaining power of workers in low-paid service jobs (McDowell et al, 2008;McKay, 2008).…”