Employee representation and partnership in the non-union sector: a paradox of intention?

Article

Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M. and Tailby, S. 2006. Employee representation and partnership in the non-union sector: a paradox of intention? Human Resource Management Journal. 16 (4), pp. 393-410. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2006.00027.x
TypeArticle
TitleEmployee representation and partnership in the non-union sector: a paradox of intention?
AuthorsUpchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M. and Tailby, S.
Abstract

Non-union forms of employee representation have become increasingly prominent in UK workplaces in the last 15 years. In addition, partnership working has been encouraged by New Labour, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Confederation of British Industry and the TUC as a route to higher commitment and higher individual and organisational performance. These trends have been further encouraged by recent European Union legislation. This article seeks to examine the implied linkages between non-union employee representative
mechanisms and partnership working and their influence on the effectiveness of employee voice as a conduit of high performance. The article is based on a case study
organisation from within the UK finance sector, and data are drawn from semistructured interviews with managers and staff and a survey of employee attitudes. The article concludes that employers’ attempts to utilise a non-union partnership framework for organisational gain are severely constrained by structural limitations on effective employee voice.

Research GroupEmployment Relations group
JournalHuman Resource Management Journal
ISSN0954-5395
Publication dates
PrintNov 2006
Publication process dates
Deposited28 Nov 2008
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2006.00027.x
LanguageEnglish
File
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/80yyz

Log in to edit

Download files

  • 72
    total views
  • 74
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 18
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

The ethos of action learning within a virtual Reflective Practice Forum: an account of practice drawing connections between action learning, community of practice and supervision frameworks
Sanyal, C., Haddock-Millar, J., Clutterbuck, D. and Richardson, M. 2021. The ethos of action learning within a virtual Reflective Practice Forum: an account of practice drawing connections between action learning, community of practice and supervision frameworks. Action Learning: Research and Practice. 18 (2), pp. 167-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767333.2021.1935030
Acute and chronic effects of foam rolling vs eccentric exercise on ROM and force output of the plantar flexors
Aune, A., Bishop, C., Turner, A., Papadopoulos, K., Budd, S., Richardson, M. and Maloney, S. 2019. Acute and chronic effects of foam rolling vs eccentric exercise on ROM and force output of the plantar flexors. Journal of Sports Sciences. 37 (2), pp. 138-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1486000
Partnership with and without trade unions in the UK financial services: filling or fuelling the representation gap?
Upchurch, M., Tailby, S., Richardson, M., Danford, A. and Stewart, P. 2007. Partnership with and without trade unions in the UK financial services: filling or fuelling the representation gap? Industrial Relations Journal. 38 (3), pp. 210-228.
Workplace partnership and work-life balance: a local government case study
Upchurch, M., Tailby, S., Richardson, M., Danford, A. and Stewart, P. 2005. Workplace partnership and work-life balance: a local government case study. in: Houston, D. (ed.) Work-life balance in the 21st century. Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
The realities of partnership at work
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Tailby, S. and Richardson, M. 2008. The realities of partnership at work. Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
Profiles of union workplace representatives : evidence from three unions in SW England
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2002. Profiles of union workplace representatives : evidence from three unions in SW England. Industrial relations. 33 (2).
Globalisation and corporate turbulence: trade union response in UK manufacturing.
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2004. Globalisation and corporate turbulence: trade union response in UK manufacturing. in: Garibaldi, F. and Telljohann, V. (ed.) Globalisation, company strategies, and quality of working life in Europe. Frankfurt am Main Peter Lang. pp. 307-338
Best value and workplace partnership in local government
Upchurch, M., Richardson, M., Tailby, S., Danford, A. and Stewart, P. 2005. Best value and workplace partnership in local government. Personnel Review. 34 (6), pp. 713-728.
'New unionism', organising and partnership: a comparative analysis of union renewal strategies in the public sector
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2002. 'New unionism', organising and partnership: a comparative analysis of union renewal strategies in the public sector. Capital and Class. 79, pp. 1-27.
Trade union strategy and renewal: the restructuring of work and work relations in the UK aerospace industry
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2002. Trade union strategy and renewal: the restructuring of work and work relations in the UK aerospace industry. Work, Employment and Society. 16 (2), pp. 305-327. https://doi.org/10.1177/095001702400426857
Restructuration organizativa y la fragmentación del collectivismo en la industria aeroespacial en el Reino Unido: las perspectivas de una renovación sindical
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2001. Restructuration organizativa y la fragmentación del collectivismo en la industria aeroespacial en el Reino Unido: las perspectivas de una renovación sindical. Cuadernos de relaciones laborales. 19.
Capital mobility, job loss, and union strategy: the case of the UK aerospace industry
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M., Tailby, S. and Stewart, P. 2007. Capital mobility, job loss, and union strategy: the case of the UK aerospace industry. Labor studies journal. 32 (3), pp. 298-318.
'Partnership, mutuality and the high performance workplace: a case study of union strategy and worker experience in the aircraft industry
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M., Tailby, S. and Stewart, P. 2004. 'Partnership, mutuality and the high performance workplace: a case study of union strategy and worker experience in the aircraft industry. in: Healy, G. (ed.) The future of worker representation Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 167-186
High performance work systems, labour control and the production worker
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M., Tailby, S. and Stewart, P. 2005. High performance work systems, labour control and the production worker. in: Stewart, P. (ed.) Employment, trade union renewal and the future of work: the experience of work and organisational change Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 187-211
High performance work systems and workplace partnership: a case study of aerospace workers
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M., Tailby, S. and Stewart, P. 2004. High performance work systems and workplace partnership: a case study of aerospace workers. New technology, work, and employment. 19 (1), pp. 14-29.
Employee experience of workplace partnership: pain or gain?
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M., Tailby, S. and Stewart, P. 2004. Employee experience of workplace partnership: pain or gain? in: Stuart, M. and Lucio, M. (ed.) Partnership and modernisation in employment relations London Routledge. pp. 210-225
Partnership, high performance work systems and quality of working life
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M., Stewart, P. and Tailby, S. 2008. Partnership, high performance work systems and quality of working life. New technology, work, and employment. 23 (3), pp. 151-166.
New unions, new workplaces: a study of union resilience in the restructured workplace
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2003. New unions, new workplaces: a study of union resilience in the restructured workplace. London Routledge.
Crisi del sindicato o suo rinnovamento: le riposts dei sindicati all'individualizzazione delle relzioni sul posto di lavoro.
Upchurch, M., Danford, A. and Richardson, M. 2002. Crisi del sindicato o suo rinnovamento: le riposts dei sindicati all'individualizzazione delle relzioni sul posto di lavoro. in: Bonazzi, G., La Rosa, M. and Pulignano, V. (ed.) Sociologia del lavoro e studi organizzativi. Lo stato del dibattito in Italia ed in Gran Bretagna. FrancoAngeli. pp. 165-190
Partnership at work and worker participation: an NHS case study
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M. and Tailby, S. 2004. Partnership at work and worker participation: an NHS case study. Industrial Relations Journal. 35 (5), pp. 403-418.
Workplace voice and employee partnership in the UK: comparative case studies of union strategy and worker experience
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M. and Tailby, S. 2005. Workplace voice and employee partnership in the UK: comparative case studies of union strategy and worker experience. Economic and Industrial Democracy. 26 (4), pp. 593-620. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X05057503
Partnership and the high performance workplace: work and employment relations in the aerospace industry
Upchurch, M., Danford, A., Richardson, M. and Tailby, S. 2005. Partnership and the high performance workplace: work and employment relations in the aerospace industry. Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.