Raising Trade Union Membership Concentration, 1892–1987: The Relative Effects of Mergers and Membership Change

Abstract

A number of recent studies measure trade union membership concentration using the Herfindah1 index. This study uses the same measure to examine the relative effects of the different factors that influenced the level of British union membership concentration between 1892 and 1987. Five factors are identi!d as influencing this development: mergers, formations, dissolutions, breaka ways, and membership change. Marked occupational differences in the relative effect of these factors are shown. In aggregate terms, mergers and membership change tend to be complementary in effect until 1946 and counteractive thereafter.

The Australian Union Merger Wave Revisited

“…Anglo-American analyses of mergers (which are relatively free of federation influence) place a much stronger emphasis upon politics at this decentralised level. In explaining mergers this literature distinguishes first between two types--amalgamation (between roughly equal partners) and absorption or acquisition (where a dominant partner takes over a smaller one) (Chaison 1980;Undy et al 1981;Waddington 1994). Following from this, the motivation to merge may be characterised as defensive (to prevent extinction), consolidatory (to grow within existing jurisdiction) or aggressive (to enter another jurisdiction) (Undy et al 1981;Michelson 2000).…”

Union‐division: on the paradoxes of purpose and membership scope in union mergers

“…Union merger research has largely centred on macro‐comparative analysis between countries (Campling and Michelson, ; Chaison, ; Waddington, ) and analysis of merger trends over specific time periods (Waddington, ; Willman, ). Yet, in addressing calls for ‘a fuller and more realistic view of union mergers … [including] decisions, preferences and beliefs about mergers’ (e.g.…”