Human resource management practices in trade unions: Implications for strategy

This paper examines administrative/clerical work organization in trade unions. It argues that this work is currently based on outdated human resource practices and assumptions and that it is undervalued leading to dissatisfaction among clerical workers and inequality and ineffectiveness in unions. The paper further argues that the current organization of administrative work is not consistent with unions' use of mobilizing, organizing and network strategies and that unions must find ways to maximize the full potential of their human resources in order to increase their effectiveness.