Political Purpose in Trade Unions

First published in 1973. In this study of trade union political activity in the period since 1945, the author demolishes much of the original rhetoric and inherited wisdom to provide an alternative insight on the entire subject of unions in politics. For his study the author has chosen to examine, in detail, the political interests and activities of a representative group of British unions, while an extended chapter makes a comparative assessment of the American experience. This title will be of interest to scholars and students of history and politics.

Preface; 1. Introduction 2. The Amalgamated Engineering Union: Its Historic Relationship to Trade Union Political Action 3. The Engineers' Sponsoring of MPs, 1950-1965 4. Measuring Grass Roots Commitment and Activity 5. Political Action for Non-political Purposes 6. Political Work of the AEU under the Labour Government, 1964-1966 7. The Trade Union Group of the Parliamentary Labour Party: Its Make-up and Philosophy 8. Functioning of the Trade Union Group, 1954-1966 9. The Transport and General Workers' Union (T & GWU) 10. Association of Supervisory Staffs and Technicians (ASSET) 11. The American Unions' Political Purpose and Methodology 12. Summary and Conclusions 13. Epilogue: Based on Events in Britain Since 1967; Appendices; Index