Representing workers - union recognition and membership in Britain

Edited by Howard Gospel and Stephen Wood, Routledge, 192 pages, paperback, £19.99

Most people want a collective voice at work, but not always exclusively through a union, according to this review of key issues in union membership and representation.

The volume is the first of three to be published based on a major research programme funded by the Leverhulme Trust, which brought together leading labour market academics to analyse the potential for union regeneration.

Although the book covers a diverse range of topics, there are some recurring themes.

One is that union membership decline is not generally a result of hostility or even apathy towards unions, but more to do with a lack of contact with trade unionism. This is particularly true of young workers and those in newer workplaces.

Another important theme is that trade unionism is now not the only way in which workers can be heard, and that other forms of consultation and representation could obscure the unique value of trade unions.

The book is a useful summary for students and practitioners of the current key themes in employment relations.