Introducing the developing story of union identities

In exploring the question of union identities it was recognized from the outset that with unions’ projected identities changing considerably over time, what was being observed was effectively a ‘snapshot of a moving picture’. Therefore this chapter explores four key drivers towards change in union identities, namely the impact of mergers, rebranding, the formation of new unions and the dissolution of existing ones. In doing so, it aims to identify the most significant trends in the development of union identities and niche unionism.

The research recognized that union amalgamations inevitably lead to new identities as exemplified by the merger of ATL and NUT to form NEU. However, where minor merging unions transfer engagements to major merging unions there can be a loss of identity. In addition to new identities created by merger, many unions have rebranded in recent years, frequently adopting new names. While most union names have traditionally indicated the occupational or industrial membership territories of the union, many unions have now adopted ‘aspirational’ titles that do not clarify who might join (Gall, 2007; Balmer, 2008). In other cases, new names are adopted to broaden a union's membership territories, as seemed to be the case when the Retained Firefighters Union changed its name to the Fire and Rescue Services Association.

A number of new unions have been formed in recent years, although they tend to be small and frequently prone to failure, as evidenced by the short-lived ‘Pop-Up Union’ formed at the University of Sussex (Certification Officer, 2016). However, it is recognized that all existing unions originated at some point and that new unions may have the potential to grow to establish a viable membership within an unorganized area of the labour market and perhaps ultimately to merge with other unions. While negotiating a transfer of engagements is normally an option for failing unions, some simply choose to dissolve the organization, as was the case with the Retired Officers Association (ROA), and therefore dissolution is also a factor in the developing story of union identities and niche unionism.