Title:
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Union commitment : form and consequences
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This Thesis presents an overview of the literature on union commitment,
identifies some key research gaps and questions, and reports eight empirical
papers that attempt to address some of the gaps in the literature. The empirical
work involves eleven separate studies of union commitment in the UK, Hong
Kong and mainland Peoples Republic of China in public sector services (nursing,
healthcare professionals, fire-fighting, teaching and the civil service), private
sector services (windscreen repair, water utilities) and private sector
manufacturing (food processing, engine manufacturing, forging). The research
overview aims to survey the main approaches, findings and implications of the
extant research on union commitment. The nature dimensionality, antecedents
and especially the consequences of union commitment are identified and
examined in detail. A particular theme examines the implications of union
commitment for members' active participation in their unions. The thesis
examines the possibility of dual commitment to unions and employing
organizations and the "multiple constituencies" view of employee commitment.
An attempt is made to link up the empirical findings of the research to the wider
industrial relations literature, for example on why workers join unions, and key
debates such as union renewal and revitalisation. The implication of the findings
on union commitment are examined in relation to the union-management
relationship and future union strategy. The research has important policy
implications for the organizing-servicing debate as a way for forward for trade
unions.
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