This book examines in detail the Industrial Relations and Employment legislation introduced by the British Conservative government and its impact on trade unions--their role, organization, influences and prospects. In particular it looks at the use of ballot legislation as an instrument in this process. The book is a result of research carried out over almost a decade by a highly experienced and respected team who base their analysis on interviews, detailed analysis of legislation and union rule books, and a series of in-depth case studies.

As Trade Union membership has declined, union mergers have been prominent features in strategies of revitalization. Yet, there is very little systematic and empirical research into the effects of union mergers on the unions actually merging or of their impact on the wider union movement. This ground-breaking study fills this gap with its in-depth analysis of British unions' mergers since 1978: the point at which British unions moved from growth into decline, primarily due to adverse and damaging changes in the British industrial relations climate.
Initially the book describes the merger...