Young and unionised in the UK? Insights from the public sector
| Pages | 314-328 |
| Published date | 07 April 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-09-2013-0136 |
| Date | 07 April 2015 |
| Author | Andy Hodder |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour,Industrial/labour relations |
Young and unionised in the UK?
Insights from the public sector
Andy Hodder
Department of Management, Birmingham Business School,
University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between trade unions and young
workers in the UK using the Young Members’Network of the Public and Commercial Services
(PCS) union as a case study.
Design/methodology/approach –Findings are based on semi-structured interviews with 20
full-time officials and 39 lay officials of all ages, the collection and analysis of primary documents and
observations at a range of union meetings.
Findings –It is argued that PCS has developed a strong network of young activists and is leading the
way in terms of engaging with and representing young workers. However, its success in the future
may be limited due to changes to the external environment in which the union is trying to organise.
Research limitations/implications –The research highlights the role of an under researched area
of trade union membership. To provide additional insights, further research is needed into the practice
of other unions.
Originality/value –This paper provides significant qualitative analysis into this issue which
complements the existing quantitative research in this area.
Keywords Industrial relations, Public sector, Trade unionism, Union responses, Young workers,
Trade union membership
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
This paper analyses the initiatives of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union
in its attempts to engage with young people in the British Civil Service. Whilst existing
academic work on the unionisation of young people focuses on the young people
themselves, this is limited in the sense that it does not allow for the consideration of
more experienced union representatives and their views towards the unionisation
of young people. The paper contributes to the existing literature by looking at how the
PCS Young Members’Network (YMN) operates and fits within the structures of the
union. It draws on a qualitative sample of both young and experienced members in
order to provide a balanced account from across the union.
The transition of young people into employment has been well documented (Br adley
and Devadason, 2008) and it is clear that they experience “more difficulties in finding
stable and well-paid employment”than older workers (Kretsos, 2010, p. 7). Indeed, it is
acknowledged that young workers are particularly affected by the wider changes in
global economic conditions which have led to the development of “flexible capitalism”
(Sennett, 1998). Such changes have seen an increase in employee insecurity and
instability as well as a loss of occupational identity (Beck, 2000; Sennett, 1998). As such,
Employee Relations
Vol. 37 No. 3, 2015
pp. 314-328
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/ER-09-2013-0136
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
An earlier version of this paper was presented at 24th Annual Meeting of Society for the
Advancement of Socio-Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 28th-30th June, 2012.
The author would like to thank Matthew Brannan, Steve French, Helen Rainbird, the editor and
the two anonymous referees for their helpful comments. The author acknowledges the financial
contributions of Keele University and the PCS to this research.
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