ABSTRACT
Individual trade unionists may well view with misgiving the activities of their organization when these are considered from a ‘national’ perspective. Full employment obviously provided the initial impetus behind the growth of workplace organization in so far as it changed the balance of the bargaining power within individual workplaces. The most effective way in which a union can achieve both high and stable membership in a given workplace is to maintain a closed shop. A union which has a closed shop agreement has a strong institutional defence against attempts by a competitor to invade its territory. Managements also have an obvious interest in avoiding inter-union competition and there is no doubt that many have responded positively to union pressure for a closed shop with the threat of multi-unionism in mind. Managers and workgroups seek to apply the power they have at their disposal in order to influence the outcome of the rule-making process in the workplace.
