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Irish trade unions under social partnership: a Faustian bargain?
Author(s) -
D'Art Daryl,
Turner Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
industrial relations journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.525
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1468-2338
pISSN - 0019-8692
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2338.2011.00617.x
Subject(s) - union density , general partnership , social partnership , irish , trade union , opposition (politics) , scope (computer science) , corporatism , political science , labour economics , political economy , economics , collective bargaining , public administration , law , politics , linguistics , philosophy , computer science , programming language
Since 1987 trade unions have been a key party to social partnership agreements in Ireland. Theoretical and empirical studies of corporatism point to positive outcomes for trade unions such as an increase in union density, ease of recognition, and increased employer support. However, apart from a modest increase in union membership numbers, none of these outcomes were realised. Union density levels have decreased significantly, union recognition is more problematic than ever, and employer opposition appears to have increased in scope and intensity. Decline in union density questions the capacity of unions to remain pivotal actors in the future. During the period of partnership union density in the private sector more than halved. It remains the paradox of partnership.