The Contentious Alliance
Trade Unions and the Labour Party
Published on 3. October 1991
Book
Hardback
752 pages
978-0-7486-0301-5 (ISBN)
Description
This is a study of one of the most important relationships in British political life. It offers a framework for understanding the internal relations of the Labour Party's often stormy relationship with the trade unions. It offers controversial answers to key questions surrounding the relationship - in what ways has the relationship changed since Kinnock became leader? How much power do union leaders wield? Can the block vote be reformed? How and why has the alliance survived so long? Is the relationship now moving towards divorce? Can and ought it be saved? This book takes a wider look at the Labour Party and the constraints and inhibitions which govern the behaviour of union leaders within it.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student
Illustrations
5 half-tones
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7486-0301-5 (9780748603015)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Part 1 Foundations: movement; regulation; achievement; settlement. Part 2 Interaction: dynamics 1959-89. Part 3 Ideology and reconstruction - the problems: left wing trade unionism, socialism and party reform; trade union leadership, democracy and constitutional revolt 1979-1982; right-wing social democracy, trade unionism and the Labour Party. Part 4 Representation of labour: sponsorship. Part 5 Policy-making and policy-makers: the block vote - process and policy; the block vote - electing the leadership; the block vote - the trajectory of reform; policy formulation - procedure process and role; policy formulation - the key issues addendum - policy review 1987-1990. Part 6 Mobilization and organization: TULV - politics and organization; TULV/TUFL and the crisis of party finance; union political fund, ballots and the role of the Labour Party; trade unionists for labour; trade unionism and the politics of party HQ. Part 7 Appraisal: "rules", power and transformation; the contentious alliance.