Trade Unions In Contemporary Capitalism

Abstract

Trade unions are a generally accepted phenomenon in Britain. They have rights in law which can be regarded in some respects as privilege; they have established relations with the great majority of employers which are written into constitutional procedures for settling industrial disputes; they are accorded public and governmental recognition as political pressure groups so that they have access to government ministers and are asked for their views on a range of economic and industrial matters; their opinions are heard or read on the media of mass communications and they are formally involved in the political decision-making process through their membership of government advisory committees. Hardly ever is a Royal Commission or government advisory body established nowadays which does not include trade union representation. In 1939, unions were represented on only twelve government committees but since the advent of the Labour Government in 1945 the number has fluctuated roughly between sixty and eighty. Nowadays there are strong legitimate protests if unions are excluded from an important advisory committee.