Importing low-density ideas to high-density revitalisation: the ‘organising model' in Denmark
Arnholtz, Jens ; Lyhne Ibsen, Christian ; Ibsen, Flemming
Economic and Industrial Democracy
2016
37
2
May
297-317
labour relations ; trade unionism ; trade union membership
Trade unionism
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0143831X14549034
English
Bibliogr.
"Why did union officials from a high-union-density country like Denmark choose to import an organising strategy from low-density countries such as the US and the UK? Drawing on in-depth interviews with key union officials and internal documents, the authors of this article argue two key points. First, rather than unions settling for a semi-automatic response to membership decline, the ‘organising model' was actively imported as a strategic tool for challenging alternative responses to membership decline. Second, the organising model was actively translated into a Danish context and most unions cherry-pick some elements while leaving fundamental aspects out. The study nevertheless indicates that a lack of coherency and model-fit to Danish industrial relations might hamper the positive effects of the organising strategy."
Digital
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.