Trade unionism and sectarianism among Derry shirt workers 1920-1968 : with special reference to the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
The problem at the heart of this study is: to what extent and in what ways was the development of trade unionism in the Derry shirt industry influenced by sectarianism? This problem and my approach to it were elaborated in contradistinction to existing theories of trade unionism in Northern Ireland. According to the main theory, developed most cogently within traditional Irish Marxism, trade unionism was thwarted by sectarianism. I suggest that this theory has more to do with the reductionist and evolutionist assumptions of its authors than with social reality and argue that the relationship between trade unionism and sectarianism is better understood with an approach in which it is recognised that both of these institutions are constituted through the actions of concrete individuals who are themselves constituted by society, and in which priority is given to the meanings which individuals ascribe to their actions and predicaments. My study is based on interviews with a sample of retired union officials and activists. My respondents were keenly aware of the Catholic-Protestant dichotomy, but, contrary to what traditional Irish Marxists would lead one to expect, they did not regard sectarianism as a significant
Finlay, Andrew Robert
Londonderry; Northern Ireland
Trade unionism and sectarianism among Derry shirt workers 1920-1968 : with special reference to the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers. The problem at the heart of this study is: to what extent and in what ways was the development of trade unionism in the Derry shirt industry influenced by sectarianism? This problem and my approach to it were elaborated in contradistinction to existing theories of trade unionism in Northern Ireland. According to the main theory, developed most cogently within traditional Irish Marxism, trade unionism was thwarted by sectarianism. I suggest that this theory has more to do with the reductionist and evolutionist assumptions of its authors than with social reality and argue that the relationship between trade unionism and sectarianism is better understood with an approach in which it is recognised that both of these institutions are constituted through the actions of concrete individuals who are themselves constituted by society, and in which priority is given to the meanings which individuals ascribe to their actions and predicaments. My study is based on interviews with a sample of retired union officials and activists. My respondents were keenly aware of the Catholic-Protestant dichotomy, but, contrary to what traditional Irish Marxists would lead one to expect, they did not regard sectarianism as a significant
trade_unionism sectarianism among worker special_reference national union garment workers problem heart study extent way development trade_unionism industry influence sectarianism problem elaborate exist theory trade_unionism northern_ireland according main theory develop within traditional irish marxism trade_unionism sectarianism suggest theory reductionist assumption author social_reality argue relationship trade_unionism sectarianism well_understood recognised institution constitute action concrete individual constitute society priority give meaning individual ascribe action predicament study_base interview sample union official activist respondent keenly aware catholic_protestant dichotomy contrary_traditional irish would lead expect regard sectarianism significant