ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study with the analysis of the process of white-collar unionisation in the steel industry, and with the appropriateness of existing union arrangements for the representation of clerical interests in the work control system of Ironhill and the wider industry. The problem of effectively attaching clerical employees to an industrial-based union whose membership consists mainly of manual workers however has far wider implications than the steel industry. The employer’s recognition of the utility of the philosophy, coupled with their desire for a rational union structure, proved significant in the further development of white-collar unionisation in the industry. The incorporation of historical material in the case study demonstrates the importance of considering current member attitudes against the background of past experience in the unionisation of white-collar workers in this industry. The sporadic activity of purely white-collar unions in steel may be attributed several sets of influences.
