Unions in Britain: Merely on the Margins or on the Cusp of a Comeback?

Abstract

This paper examines the past, present and future trajectory of unions and the union movement in Britain to analyse whether collectively they remain on the margins of in-fluence in the economy and society or whether, given and because of the crisis of neo-liberalism, they may be on the cusp of a comeback. Diagnosis and prognosis are sober-ing such that a possibility rather than probability of a comeback is discussed. This task is carried out by specifying the dimensions and criteria for renewal and revitalisation across a range of indicators.