Trade Unions - Resource or Regulation?

Abstract

In the first part of the article an attempt is made to locate the trade unions' position in their various relations to the buyers of labor in a capitalist economy. The position is considered a contradictory one, and the concept of the trade unions' double position is used to designate this position. The concept of the trade unions' double function refers to the consequences of their activity in this position.

Given this designation of the trade unions' position, we point to the strategic importance of the degree of unionization and the level of local union activity with respect to the development of an industrial democracy. We distinguish between two models of democracy: the representative and the participatory. Two extensive Norwegian research projects are used to illustrate the differences and similarities between these different models of democracy. The problem of local union activity is considered to be crucial in this connection.

In the last part of the article we draw special attention to the problem of unionization. This problem is regarded as closely related to the trade unions' organizational forms, and it is discussed with reference to pro posed changes in the organizational structure of the Norwegian LO.

In a synthesis of the various themes of the article we point to the relationship that exists between local union activity and degree of unioni zation, and how this relationship, in turn, is connected with the trade unions' double function and different strategies to increase the employees' influence. The aim of the article is to offer a fruitful preliminary approach to the study of these rather complex interrelationships.