The influence of internal union factions on union renewal strategies: the case of the Finnish Paper Workers' Union (original) (raw)
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This thesis consists of four articles and an introductory section. The main research questions in all the articles refer to the changes in the representativeness of the Finnish Paper Workers' Union. Representativeness stands for the entire entity of external, internal, legal and reputational factors that enable the labor union to represent its members and achieve its goals. This concept is based on an extensive reading of quantitative and qualitative industrial relations literature, which includes works based on Marxist labor-capital relations (such as Hyman's industrial relations studies), and more recent union density studies as well as gender- and ethnic diversity-based 'union revitalization' studies. Müller-Jentsch's German studies of industrial relations have been of particular importance as well as Streeck's industrial unionism and technology studies. The concept of representativeness is an attempt to combine the insights of these diverse strands of lit...
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Over the last decade a large decline in union membership and influence has been observed in many countries. This observation has prompted many researchers to consider the means by which individual unions are able to mitigate the effects of less favourable economic and political conditions on their functions as institutions designed to represent and defend worker interests. Such research suggests that unions can improve their labour market and political position through the reformulation of established union strategies. This paper contributes to this research agenda by developing a more robust construct of union strategy. It begins with a critical evaluation of the concept of 'strategy' and 'strategic choice' within the organisational studies and business strategy literatures, as well as its use in industrial relations theory. From there it develops a conceptual framework of union strategy. This framework posits that union strategies can be analysed in terms of four dimensions: objectives, methods, tactics and the level at which strategies are formulated and implemented. It also considers the nature of the strategy formulation process. This model, it is argued, could be operationalised in cross-national research on union strategy to investigate specific strategic patterns, the determinants of specific strategic patterns, and the relationship between different strategies and measures of union effectiveness.
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