An American Solution to an Irish Problem: Accounting for Union Organizing in Ireland

This article explores the transfer of US-developed practices of union organizing to Ireland. It focuses on Ireland’s largest and most significant union, SIPTU, which pioneered the turn to organizing in Ireland. It examines... [ view full abstract ]

This article explores the transfer of US-developed practices of union organizing to Ireland. It focuses on Ireland’s largest and most significant union, SIPTU, which pioneered the turn to organizing in Ireland. It examines the extent to which new organizing practices took root and whether they were successful or not. It finds that, while many of the antecedents commonly identified in the international literature are necessary in accounting for union organizing outcomes in Ireland, they are not sufficient. The article identifies two further preconditions. They are first the requirement for campaigns to be adapted to the varying postures of employers; and second, there is the prerequisite to address the ‘architecture of union organizing’, which includes the requirement to concurrently embrace both aerial and ground campaigns; to develop multi-level representative structures; and finally, to strategically integrate the organizing wing of the union with its divisional representative structures.
Ireland, union organizing, union renewal

Union organising model, union renewal, union organising [ view full abstract ]

Union organising model, union renewal, union organising