Organizing Matters

Guy Mundlak, Tel Aviv University, Israel

• Contents: Introduction: A Theory of Two Logics, A Study of Four Countries 1. The Two Logics of Labour's Association 2. Hybrid industrial relations systems: between Ghent and sliced up bargaining units 3. Four hybrid industrial relations systems – converging challenges, divergent institutions 4. Declining membership and a rising legitimacy gap 5. Membership-based strategies - organizing and recruitment 6. Between two logics - strains of organizing when membership counts 7. Between two logics - bridging practices as a path towards revitalization Postscript: The two logics and membership counts References Index

'Labour unions worldwide have had decades to experiment with different revitalization strategies to combat declining membership and political influence. In Organizing Matters, Guy Mundlak provides a uniquely comprehensive and engaging analysis of how these experiments have played out in four countries where unions are experiencing a growing gap between collective agreement coverage (high or stable) and union membership (low or declining). He draws on examples of organizing campaigns, rich with detail and quotes, to show the tensions unions in these countries experience when they seek to mobilize and recruit members at enterprise level - as well as the potential for these strategies to complement traditional forms of 'social bargaining' at sector or national level. The book's findings give grounds for cautious hope that trade unions are forging new hybrid strategies that use workplace organizing to both strengthen employee voice and mobilize institutional power.'--Virginia Doellgast, Cornell University, US