UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

UK Unions, Collective Action and the Cost Disease

Willman, P; Bryson, A; Forth, J; (2020) UK Unions, Collective Action and the Cost Disease. British Journal of Industrial Relations , 58 (2) pp. 447-470. 10.1111/bjir.12471. Green open access

[thumbnail of Bryson ms2442 redraft final jan 19.pdf]
Preview
Text
Bryson ms2442 redraft final jan 19.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper looks at the financial resources of trade unions in the UK. The core argument is that trade unions are subject to ‘cost disease’ pressures such that costs rise long term above the general level of inflation. They have this property because of the difficulty in solving first and second order collective action problems. First order problems refer to the problems of initiating collective action and second order problems refer to the management of collective action organisations. Both UK aggregate and case study data – from one of the largest UK unions, Unite – are presented to illustrate the cost disease problem and to suggest options for its management. In conclusion, the wider implications of ‘cost disease’ pressures for unions are assessed

Type: Article
Title: UK Unions, Collective Action and the Cost Disease
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12471
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjir.12471
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Social Research Institute
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10074801
Downloads since deposit
35Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item