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Contested resources: unions, employers, and the adoption of new work practices in US and UK telecommunications

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 05:40 authored by Matias RamirezMatias Ramirez, Frederick Guy, David Beale
The pattern of adoption of high-performance work practices has been explained in terms of strategic contingency and in terms of union presence. We compare the post-deregulation/privatization changes in work practice at AT&T, Bell Atlantic and British Telecom. On the basis of these cases, we argue that the choice of new work practices should be understood as a consequence not only of the company's resources or changes in its environment, nor of a simple union presence, but also as a consequence of the practices' effects on union power, the nature of the union's engagement, and the union's strategic choices.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

British Journal of Industrial Relations

ISSN

0007-1080

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

3

Volume

45

Page range

495-517

Pages

22.0

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Notes

The paper covers the introduction of high-performance work practices in 1 UK and 2 US telecoms companies. The trade unions in all 3 were facing a hostile environment of new levels of competition in their industry, but responded in different ways. Power relations between employer and union were a key factor. Dr Ramirez was the lead author, responsible for all the case studies and literature review, amounting to about 70% of the final paper.

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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