An analysis of research on Dutch trade unions by Dutch sociologists & shortcomings in such research
Samenvatting
Sociol has not paid much attention to the problems of trade unions. This is caused by the lack of a general sociol'al theory of trade unions. Before such a theory becomes possible a critical analysis of a number of articles by Dutch sociol'ts (viz, M. van de Vall, G. Kuiper Hzn., P. J. A. ter Hoeven, H. Hoefnagels, H. J. van Zuthem & W. Top) would prove useful. In those articles much attention has been paid to: (1) The external circumstances influencing the Dutch trade unions (growth of wealth, changes of mentality, centralization, bur'ization, changes in societal patterns of the formation of groups). Analyses of the nature & background of general developments in society are lacking. Also, the influences exercised by the trade unions on those developments & their direction are not dealt with. (2) Descriptions of some characteristics of Dutch trade unions--special attention has been paid to the following: relation between members/leaders, type of org, decisional structure, & mechanisms of soc control. In general the usual structure & org of the trade union in Holland is accepted as a datum, without historical or internat'l comparison. Further, all the articles focus on one or some aspects of the trade unions & it is not possible to obtain a coherent picture. (3) Lack of interest in analysis of the "core functions" of the trade unions. The analysis of "core functions" is termed too one-sided (eg, job & worker control), too ideological & too vague. H. Van de Belt.
