The Economics of Trade Union Organization and Administration

Abstract

Analysis of the union resembles the examination of the elephant by the blind men: it reveals a creature of diverse characteristics. The union may be regarded as, among other things, a political organization, a social fraternity, a beneficial society, a pressure group, or a bargaining agency. In this article, the union is appraised in yet another role--that of a business organization which must equate its expenditures with its income. Although the union does not function to make a profit, yet it cannot sustain for long an over-all financial loss on its operations and must operate within the rules of economic logic. Analysis of the financial problems faced by the union may explain, according to the author, such matters as the slow expansion of union membership, the concentration of strength in urban areas, and the increasing tendency of unions to seek members in diverse crafts and industries. (Author's abstract courtesy EBSCO.)