Ebook: United we stand : a history of Britain's trade unions

The development of trade unionism is presented in cycles of growth followed by periods of instability. Each period of instability sees trade unions getting to grips with fundamental problems of recruitment and organization and, in so far as these are resolved, lays the basis for the next period of steady growth. Reid argues that although the unions are currently weak and marginalized, the likelihood is that this will be a temporary phase