Martin 1968

Martin, R. 1968. "Union Democracy: An Explanatory Framework". Sociology. 2 (2): 205-220.

• Studies unions in England
• constraints = thigns that inhibit the union exectuive from destroying internal opposition (205)
• definition of "democracy" = the status of opposition (207)
• democracy exists where organized opposition is tolerated
• it is admitted, however, that faction within a union may harm a union's bargaining position
• 12 constraints on the executive (208)
• political culture (208-209)
• whether internal union culture emphasizes democracy or not
• government attitudes and behavior (209)
• sees effect of whether government wants wage constraint or not, if it wants leaders to discipline members
• membership distribution (209-210)
• the more homogeneous the demands of membership, the more likely democracy will prevail
• strong leaders/bureaucratization arises so that professionals can balance interests of many different groups
• industrial environment (210)
• ownership structures: oncentrated biz deamnds unions to also be pyramids
• employer hostility may increase union solidarity, decrease willingness to allow faction in union
• economic environment
• opposition is OK when economy is good
• technoogy (211)
• for example, work where people have time to chat, are close to one another can build solidarity, opposition groups....divided workers less likely to have time/ability to engage in political discussion
• source of bargaining power
• mass (industrial) power = strong exec
• craft power/local workshop power = weak exec
• membership characteristics
• "political skills" and education, moang other things (211-212)
• Membership beliefs (212)
• about what executive can legitimately do 
• opposition resources and expertise (212-213)
• ability and resources to generate and maintain opposition in a union 
• Leadership Attitudes
• how committed leader is to democracy, etc. (213)
• union structure (213-214)
• does formal structure limit disagreement? allow it to be articulated?
• sub-structural autonomy can help breed democracy
• looks at two cases, from England, RR workers and an engineers union (non-RR, I believe) (214-216)
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