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Decentralization in the NHS: Prospects for Workplace Unionism
Author(s) -
Lloyd Caroline
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of industrial relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.665
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-8543
pISSN - 0007-1080
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8543.00062
Subject(s) - decentralization , collective bargaining , industrial relations , public sector , trade union , process (computing) , business , economic system , public administration , political science , economics , market economy , labour economics , economy , management , computer science , operating system
The substantial changes that are taking place in the organization of the UK public sector are transforming traditional patterns of industrial relations based on centralized and institutionalized collective bargaining. Whether the trade unions can successfully respond to this process will be of prime importance for the future development of industrial relations in the public sector. The paper considers recent evidence of the impact of decentralization on union organization in four hospital units. The research findings suggest that there is a growth in union activity as a result of the process of decentralization, but that the effectiveness of unions is likely to vary considerably between hospitals.