Meaning of Militancy?

Gregor Gall, Dr, Reader in Industrial Relations, Department of Management and Organization, University of Stirling, Scotland

'Amidst the general decline in strike activity in Britain postal workers have emerged in recent years as one of the most strike prone groups of employees. The story of how they came to play this role is told persuasively and in great detail in Gregor Gall's new book. It will be invaluable reading both for those interested in union and worker militancy and for those concerned about the future of the labour movement.' Professor John Kelly, London School of Economics, UK 'The book is...important as an historical testament to a key moment in British industrial relations and as an insight into the contradictory nature of militancy...What Gall has shown us is how a tradition of militancy emerged in a context where militancy had been weak. In this respect, his methodology and his detailed approach is one of the strengths of the book.' Industrial Relations Journal 'Through a highly detailed account of the postal workers' growing and sustained combativity since the 1970s, Gall sketches a real political economy of the contemporary workplace...The book...remains a major addition to the recent history of the British labour movement.' Journal of Industrial Relations

• Contents: Introduction; Worker militancy, trade unionism and industrial relations; Royal Mail's business, industrial and political environments; Strikes in Royal Mail: volumes and trends; The 1988 national postal strike; The 1996 national postal strike; Strike propensity and strike potency; Strike organisation and strike characteristics; The politics and consciousness of postal workers; Assessing militancy; Comparative positions and processes; Conclusion; Postscript; Appendices; References; Index.