Exploring Trade Union Identities: Union Identity, Niche Identity and the Problem of Organising the Unorganised

Exploring Trade Union Identities presents a critical discussion of contemporary trade unions, informed by cutting edge research into union identities. The book will develop a new approach to understanding unions based on their projected identities through the application of a new multi-dimensional framework of analysis. The book also explores the concept of ‘niche’ in the context of trade unions, introducing the idea of ‘niche unionism’ to encompass unions that organize niche areas within the labor market and larger as well as general unions that organize niches in occupational or industrial sections. Through the analysis of union identities and the recognition of niche unionism the book will argue that unions are now largely cornered within established membership territories and are having limited success in organizing the unorganized. The discussion will consider issues influencing the development of union identities including rebranding, the impact of mergers, the formation of new unions, and the efficacy of union identities with reference to the problem of organizing unorganized workers.