Trade Unionism and the Insurance Clerk

Abstract

This paper attempts to demonstrate that changes in the class situation of insurance workers were important amongst the factors explaining the rapid increase in the density of TUC affiliated unionism amongst insurance clerks from the late 1960's onwards. The clerical class position is situated in terms of Marxist categories, and related to the Weberian categories of `work' and `market' situation. There then follows a brief history of insurance unionism. I then chart the economic difficulties of the insurance industry from the late `fifties onwards; these were followed by the widespread rationalization of the insurance labour force - in particular, the introduction of the computer. I argue that the application of `modern managerial techniques' and computer technology has transformed the nature of the insurance labour force - and thus the `work' and `market' situation of the insurance clerk. In conclusion, I briefly review other factors - e.g. government policy - which, together with the changes in class situation, have contributed to the growth in trade union membership amongst insurance workers.