British Labour and the European Union: The Europeanisation of Trade Unions?

[From the Introduction]. This paper argues that the perceived costs, benefits and opportunities of deeper European integration will vary across trade union organisations due to sectoral orientation. In addition, a positive assessment of ‘Europe’ and further integration does not necessarily result in Europeanisation of any kind. A particular trade union’s response to the EU is also subject to internal ideological and organisational constraints [Marks & McAdam 1996]. By analysing responses of trade union organisations to instances of EU integration this study hopes to highlight: How union organisations assess deepening European integration and the developing European political economy; The role of industrial location or sectoral orientation in the assessment of perceived economic and political interests; The role of internal organisational dynamics/constraints in determining the direction and extent of responses