DECENTRALIZATION IN THE NHS - PROSPECTS FOR WORKPLACE UNIONISM

The substantial changes that are taking place ill the organization of the UK public sector are transforming traditional patterns of industri al relations based on centralized and institutionalized collective bar gaining. Whether the trade unions can successfully respond to this pro cess will be of prime importance for the future development of industr ial relations in the public sector. The paper considers recent evidenc e of the impact of decentralization on union organization in four hosp ital units. The research findings suggest that there is a growth in un ion activity as a result of the process of decentralization, but that the effectiveness of unions is likely to vary considerably between hos pitals.