Radical pluralism, high inflation, and trust in historical context: the continued relevance of Fox in understanding UK public sector strikes
| Date | 20 May 2024 |
| Pages | 1306-1319 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-08-2023-0412 |
| Published date | 20 May 2024 |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour,Industrial/labour relations,Employment law |
| Author | Melanie Simms |
Radical pluralism, high inflation,
and trust in historical context:
the continued relevance of Fox
in understanding UK public
sector strikes
Melanie Simms
Adam Smith Business School, College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow,
Glasgow, UK
Abstract
Purpose –The paper uses key themes from Fox’s writing to reflect on the wave of public sector industrial
action that developed in the UK since the early 2020s: specifically the relevance of (1) radical pluralism,
(2) historical context, (3) understanding the effects of high inflation and (4) (a breakdown of) trust relations.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper draws primarily on evidence from broad public debate but is
informed by discussions held with senior union leaders both for a research project and in delivering
development training.
Findings –Radical pluralism is used as a lens through which to understand declining trust in institutions of
pluralist collective industrial relations in the UK public sector, arguing that current developments need to be
understood in historical context. An analysis of the industrial action in the early 2020s highlights the ways that
a period of high inflation can stress institutions of collective employment regulation, rendering visible the limits
of conventional, pluralist industrial relations.
Research limitations/implications –The paper could be extended by more detailed empirical data
collection, both in the UK and other national institutional contexts.
Practical implications –Unions need to more consistently focus on issues of power. A stronger focus on
power might identify the limitations of pluralist institutions of collective regulationand embed a commitment
to building union influence to challenge those existing structures in favour of mechanisms to build workers’
power more broadly.
Social implications –Understanding these disputes as, at least in part, being about the limits to and
undermining of trust in collective institutions that regulate work and employment allows us to better
understand the forces at play and potential outcomes of these disputes.
Originality/value –The paper makesthree key contributions: first, applying Fox’s work in a practical way to
contemporary UK industrial relations; second, extending his analyses to public sector industrial relations and
third, arguing that power needs to be more centrally located within union objectives in order to reshape
industrial relations to radical pluralist ends.
Keywords Industrial relations, Trade unions, Strikes, Alan Fox, Public sector trade unionism
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Alan Fox’s contribution to the formation and expansion of industrial relations [1] and the
sociology of work as fields of study is unquestioned. His writings speak to many themes and
issues that are confronting current thinkers in the fields. This special issue presents an
opportunity to revisit his foundational texts and to explore the relevance of key concepts to
the period of significant, and unusual, industrial unrest that has emerged in the UK since
2022. Specifically, four key themes emerged from re-reading Fox’s key texts (Fox, 1971,
1974a,b,1985a,2004). First, the importance of taking an historical perspective on industrial
relations to contextualise contemporary developments. Fox was initially a historian (Fox,
1958;Clegg et al., 1964) and made key historical contributions including History and Heritage:
ER
46,6
1306
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/0142-5455.htm
Received 11 August 2023
Revised 19 October 2023
4 March 2024
22 March 2024
Accepted 24 March 2024
Employee Relations: The
International Journal
Vol. 46 No. 6, 2024
pp. 1306-1319
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/ER-08-2023-0412
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
