Topical: analyses the state and status of unions today in relation to industrial restructuring and workplace change (particularly complicated in relation to current statistics of employee discontent, job insecurity and intensification of work

International: draws on union renewal strategies in the UK and abroad

Historical: presents an overview of the history of union renewal in the past, and compares the UK with international exemplars: i.e. US, Australian, Canadian and the 'social partnership model' dominant within key members of the EU

Key Discourses: Identifies the key discourses of social movement unionism, community unionism and new trade union identities today

Controversial: examines the tension in the British trade unions, as they and the TUC embrace the turn towards participative 'new unionism' and 'social partnership'