Community Unionism: A Comparative Analysis of Concepts and Contexts

Discussion of what has been termed 'Community Unionism' (CU) traverses a range of disciplines, including geography, sociology and industrial relations.

While the term is being used more extensively, it tends to be loosely deployed and often in such a variety of ways as to generate as much confusion as clarity.

This book draws out the different meanings, including a range of the variations, of the term CU.

The case studies presented in this book raise a number of issues important to the process of CU and its potential for success, including the nature of CU; the impact of geography; the sustainability of CU initiatives; the role played by activists in building trust between trade unions, community and faith groups; the potential problems presented to traditional trade unionism in acting beyond the workplace; the diversity of CU initiatives and whether CU offers the prospect of an alternative form of trade unionism.