ABSTRACT
Worker collectivism, defined in terms of attitudes, behaviour and organisation, in the financial services sector has emerged in a significant quantitative way and developed in important qualitative manners since its beginnings in the early part of the twentieth century. This chapter follows the stylised periodisation of the evolution, development and existence of labour unionism in the financial services sector. A thumbnail sketch of the political economy of the financial services sector in Britain is provided to situate the processes and outcomes of employment relations and the research methods used for the study are described. The study offers a radical historical and longitudinal perspective on labour unionism, employer action and employment relations in the financial services sector. It focuses on workers and their organs of representation, where the actions of employers and movements in market configuration are of a contextual importance.
