Abstract
This paper presents the results of a survey on the characteristics of almost 1,900 union mergers. It was found that a large proportion of national unions had some local mergers, but a majority of cases occurred in a few very active unions. Most mergers were absorptions of smaller locals into larger ones. Formal requirements for local mergers, either through general policies or constitutional clauses, were infrequent, but national level governing bodies appear to have substantial control over the approval of mergers. Suggestions are made for the further study of local mergers in relation to bargaining structure, local autonomy, membership participation, and local effectiveness.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allison, Elisabeth K. “Financial Analysis of the Local Union”Industrial Relations 14 (May 1975): 145–55.
Anderson, John C. “A Comparative Analysis of Local Union Democracy.”Industrial Relations 17 (October 1978): 278–93.
Applebaum, Leon. “Officer Turnover and Salary Structure in Local Unions.”Industrial and Labor Relations Review 19 (January 1966): 224–30.
_____.. “A Comparison of Officer Turnovers and Salary Structures in Local Unions.”Labor Law Journal 20 (December 1969): 795–802.
_____ and Henry R. Blain. “Compensation and Turnover of Union Officers.”Industrial Relations 14 (May 1975): 156–57.
“Bigger Unions Will Pack a Bigger Wallop.”Nation’s Business (May 1973), p. 52.
Bok, Derek C. and John T. Dunlop.Labor and the American Community. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1970.
Brooks, George W. and Sara Gamm.The Causes and Effects of Union Mergers with Special Reference to Selected Cases in the 60’s and 70’s. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Management Services Administration, September 1976.
Bureau of National Affairs (BNA).Daily Labor Report. Washington, D.C.: BNA, February 9, 1978, p. A1.
_____.Daily Labor Report. Washington, D.C.: BNA, February 2, 1982, pp. A1–2.
Chaison, Gary N. “A Note on Union Merger Trends, 1900–1978.”Industrial and Labor Relations Review 34 (October 1980): 114–20.
_____. “Union Growth and Union Mergers.”Industrial Relations 20 (Winter 1982): 98–108.
_____. “A Note on the Critical Dimensions of the Union Merger Process.”Relations Industrielles — Industrial Relations 37 (1982a): 198–206.
_____. “Union Mergers and the Integration of Union Governing Structures.”Journal of Labor Research 3 (Springer 1982b): 139–51.
Chitayat, Gideon. “Mergers of Trade Unions.” Ph.D. Diss. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1975.
_____.Trade Union Mergers and Labor Conglomerates. New York: Praeger, 1979.
Coady, Michael J. “Trade Union Mergers and Their Significance in the Canadian Union Movement.” L.L.M. Diss. Osgood Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, 1976.
DeCenzo, David A. “Union Merger Negotiations.” Ph.D. Diss. West Virginia University, Morgantown, 1981.
Faunce, William A. “Size of Locals and Union Democracy.”American Journal of Sociology 68 (November 1962): 291–98.
Gilman, Tamara A.L. “Union Administration: Strategy, Structure and Organizing Behavior.” Ph.D. Diss. Harvard University, Cambridge, 1981.
Graphic Arts International Union (GAIU).1973 Special Convention of the GAIU: Officers Reports and Convention Resolutions. Saint Louis, MO, September 1973.
Hartman, Paul T. and Walter H. Franke. “The Changing Bargaining Structure in Construction: Wide-Area and Multi-Craft Bargaining.”Industrial and Labor Relations Review 33 (January 1980): 170–84.
Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union.Proceedings and Officers Reports of the Thirty-Ninth General Convention of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union. Cincinnati, Ohio, 1981.
Kochan, Thomas A.Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations. Homewood, Ill.: Irwin, 1980.
Laborers International Union of North America.1971 Report of the General Executive Board. Washington, D.C. 1971.
Loewenberg, J. Joseph. “U.S. Postal Services.” InCollective Bargaining: Contemporary American Experience, ed. Gerald G. Somers. Madison, Wis.: Industrial Relations Research Association, 1980, pp. 435–86.
Troy, Leo. “American Unions and Their Wealth.”Industrial Relations 14 (May 1975): 134–44.
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.Directory of National Unions and Employee Associations, 1979. Bulletin 2079. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1980.
United Transportation Union (UTU).Unification Agreement. Cleveland, Ohio, 1968.
Windmuller, John P. “Concentration Trends in Union Structure.”Industrial and Labor Relations Review 35 (October 1981): 43–57.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chaison, G.N. Local union mergers: Frequency, forms, and national union policy. Journal of Labor Research 4, 325–338 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02685340
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02685340