Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
The research replicates a study of the activities and power of workplace union representatives already completed in the coal industry. The objectives of the study on the railway are as follows: 1. Firstly, to test further the methodology for the comparative analysis of workplace power developed in the coal study. 2. Using this methodology to identify the range and amount of power of Local Departmental Committee representatives (managers and `shop stewards') over workplace activity. 3. To compare their activities and power with that of local NUM representatives in the coal industry. 4. To compare the activities and power of the NUR Local Departmental Committee (LDC) representatives with those of ASLEF LDC representatives. 5. To identify the structural, economic and attitudinal factors related to their activities and their power in order to explore further the relationships identified in the coal industry study.
Main Topics:
Variables The data consists of a set of secondary variables created from a number of primary data sets:- (1) Measures of power derived from a decision analysis. (2) Measures of size, <i>performance</i>, industrial action from <i>background</i> data collected for each location. (3) A questionnaire on attitudes to work, union and the LDC., etc., sent to a sample of ordinary railmen (i.e. not LDC representatives). (4) Questionnaires sent to all LDC representatives on their role, relationships, attitudes, etc. (5) A questionnaire handed to a spokesman representative from each LDC concerning role, relationships, attitudes, etc. (6) A questionnaire handed to management chairman of LDCs concerning role, relationships, attitudes, etc (7) An interview schedule administered to the management chairman and LDC spokesman about their involvement and influence in decision making. Measurement Scales For measurements of power, see Edwards, C.Y., 'Measuring union power: a comparison of two methods applied to the study of local union power in the coal industry', <i>British Journal of Industrial Relations</i> V. 16 (1) 1978 and Edwards, C.Y., 'Power and decision making in the workplace: a study in the coal mining industry', <i>Industrial Relations Journal</i> V. 14 (1) 1983
Forty locations were chosen at random from five operational British Rail Regions. An attempt was made to sample all LDC representative and managers at these locations.
Face-to-face interview
Postal survey
