Trade union mergers: a survey of the literature

Since the 1980s treade union mergers have reshaped the labour movements of many Western countries. This article examines this phenomomon with the objective of highlighting merger forms, merger motovations, the role played by union officers and merger 'waves'. The article contends that analyses of union merger based on either internal or external factors is insufficient. Rather, both are necessary to fully understand why and how unions undertake such structural change. The consequences of merger on union members and performance is also examined, with the conclusion that union memrger activity has had little impact one way or the other.