Trade-unions in the United Kingdom since 1979: The neoliberal experiment and reforms

What impact has the neoliberal policy implemented by Conservative governments in the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1997 had on the organization, activities and, more broadly, power of trade-unions? Many of the measures adopted by the Conservatives did not meet up to expectations. Moreover; the unions do not want to return to the practices of the 1970s, which are now deemed inappropriate. Three fields where unions have begun to revise their agenda are analyzed: relations between the trade-unions and the Labour Party, relations with employers and the involvement of members in their unions. Some of these reforms, still only existing in words rather than deeds, have spawned internal dissent (e.g., the idea of a social partnership within firms). This shift of priorities and strategies has not, at least not till now stopped the decline in union-membership nor enlarged the scope of union actions. Two essential problems must be solved: strengthen the weak internal cohesion of the strongly diversified labor movement and improve the linkage between local and top-levels in the trade-unions