Why did the first trade unions form? How have unions changed since they first emerged? What impact do they have on wages, employment and productivity? In this book, J.R. Shackleton answers these questions and guides the reader through the fascinating history of trade unions in Britain. From their origins as secretive and semi-legal societies of workers on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, to their post-war position at the heart of Britain’s economic and political establishment, to their more equivocal position today, this is a story of change – often gradual but sometimes rapid and disruptive. This book offers an account of the history and economics of trade unionism which, though unsentimental and often critical, is not without sympathy for the aims of the movement that has done so much to shape Britain’s economic landscape. Shackleton looks not only to the past, but also to the future. He examines whether the landslide victory achieved by Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in the 2024 general election is likely to lead to a resurgence in union power and influence.
About the author
J. R. Shackleton is Professor of Economics at the University of Buckingham and Research and Editorial Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs. He edits the journal Economic Affairs.
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