This thesis investigates what factors affect union organization and, to some degree, union activity in the face of declining union density in the majority of Western countries. Union structures have been changing in recent decades, not only in terms of declining membership but also because women and white-collar workers are becoming a more stable part of the membership base, whereas previously highly organized groups, such as blue-collar workers, are in decline. The point of departure for this thesis is that union density changes must be understood on several different levels. Thus, we must investigate changing union density in light of changing institutional settings, changing labour market structures and changing norms and values on the individual level. The thesis consists of three empirical studies investigating union density changes and union activity in Sweden, and an introductory chapter that develops the theoretical and empirical (historical) background. The empirical studies investigate: (1) whether and how the influence of various aspects of class and ideology on union organization have changed over time, (2) the effect of structural change on union density increase and decline, and(3) what factors influence different attitudes towards industrial action among Swedish employees. Results show that union density decline in Sweden since the mid-1990s cannot be explained by any forceful shifts in the labour market structure or individuals’ opinions and/or attitudes related to trade unions to any significant degree. Union density decline in Sweden is of a general nature. However, an increasing divergence in union density across various categories of employees, including, e.g., private-sector vs. public-sector employees, young vs. older employees, employees of foreign origin vs. employees of Swedish origin, and the atypically employed vs. employees with standardized employment, is observed. Moreover, previously strong predictors of union membership, including class identity, ideology, sector of employment and type of employment contract, are in decline, but they still influence union organization and attitudes towards industrial action. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

Este trabalho de pesquisa pretende desenvolver uma análise de cinco documentários realizados pelo cineasta Renato Tapajós, entre 1977 e 1982, em parceria com o Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema: \"Acidente de Trabalho\" (1977), \"Trabalhadoras Metalúrgicas\" (1978), \"Greve de Março\" (1979), \"A luta do Povo\" (1980) e o longa-metragem \"Linha de Montagem\" (1981). O objetivo é refletir sobre essa experiência de produção de filmes militantes, destinada à educação sindical, durante a Ditadura Militar no Brasil. Para isso, procuraremos identificar como se configura o ponto de vista dos documentários. Partiremos da análise da relação entre as temáticas apresentadas e as diferentes locuções que os filmes articulam, para investigar como o aspecto político e ideológico da representação da afirmação da identidade sindical, de contestação social e de rearticulação do movimento sindical no ABC durante o regime militar é elaborado e organizado. Finalmente iremos relacionar algumas das referidas obras de Renato Tapajós com outros modos de representação do operariado paulista presentes na produção cinematográfica brasileira no fim da década de 70. / This research aims to develop an analysis of five documentaries made by filmmaker Renato Tapajós, between 1977 and 1982, in partnership with the Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema (Metalworkers Union): \"Acidente de Trabalho\" (Labour Accident) (1977), \"Trabalhadoras Metalúrgicas\" (Women Metalworkers) (1978), \"Greve de Março\" (Strike in March) (1979), \"A luta do Povo\" (The struggle of the People) (1980) and the feature film \"Linha de Montagem\" (Assembly line) (1981). For this, we will identify how the point of view configures itself on those documentaries. Based on the analysis of the relationship between the issues presented and the different voices that the films articulate, we intent to investigate how the political and ideological representation of the union identity statement, social contestation and the rearticulation of the union activity on ABC during the military regime was prepared and organized. Finally, we will relate some of these films of Renato Tapajós with other modes of representation from the metalworkers present in São Paulo Brazilian films in the late 70\'s.

Este trabalho de pesquisa pretende desenvolver uma análise de cinco documentários realizados pelo cineasta Renato Tapajós, entre 1977 e 1982, em parceria com o Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema: \"Acidente de Trabalho\" (1977), \"Trabalhadoras Metalúrgicas\" (1978), \"Greve de Março\" (1979), \"A luta do Povo\" (1980) e o longa-metragem \"Linha de Montagem\" (1981). O objetivo é refletir sobre essa experiência de produção de filmes militantes, destinada à educação sindical, durante a Ditadura Militar no Brasil. Para isso, procuraremos identificar como se configura o ponto de vista dos documentários. Partiremos da análise da relação entre as temáticas apresentadas e as diferentes locuções que os filmes articulam, para investigar como o aspecto político e ideológico da representação da afirmação da identidade sindical, de contestação social e de rearticulação do movimento sindical no ABC durante o regime militar é elaborado e organizado. Finalmente iremos relacionar algumas das referidas obras de Renato Tapajós com outros modos de representação do operariado paulista presentes na produção cinematográfica brasileira no fim da década de 70. / This research aims to develop an analysis of five documentaries made by filmmaker Renato Tapajós, between 1977 and 1982, in partnership with the Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema (Metalworkers Union): \"Acidente de Trabalho\" (Labour Accident) (1977), \"Trabalhadoras Metalúrgicas\" (Women Metalworkers) (1978), \"Greve de Março\" (Strike in March) (1979), \"A luta do Povo\" (The struggle of the People) (1980) and the feature film \"Linha de Montagem\" (Assembly line) (1981). For this, we will identify how the point of view configures itself on those documentaries. Based on the analysis of the relationship between the issues presented and the different voices that the films articulate, we intent to investigate how the political and ideological representation of the union identity statement, social contestation and the rearticulation of the union activity on ABC during the military regime was prepared and organized. Finally, we will relate some of these films of Renato Tapajós with other modes of representation from the metalworkers present in São Paulo Brazilian films in the late 70\'s.

Cette thèse propose d’explorer, à partir d’une intervention réalisée dans un milieu de travail non ordinaire, celui d’une section départementale d’un syndicat, les spécificités de la dimension impersonnelle du « métier » de syndicaliste.L’intervention s’est déployée selon la perspective méthodologique et méthodique propre à la clinique de l’activité, auprès d’un collectif de militants d’un syndicat des enseignants du premier degré qui ont pris pour objet d’analyse une part de leur activité syndicale. Cette intervention, tant dans son déroulement que dans le contenu des analyses co-produites par les militants, a été particulière. Après un examen de la littérature relative à des travaux qui s’intéressent au syndicalisme analysé comme une activité et à des métiers exercés dans le secteur social, cette particularité s’est précisée et s’est constituée en objet de recherche. Elle concerne l’une des quatre dimensions du « métier » de syndicaliste, la dimension impersonnelle. Les analyses du matériau issu des autoconfrontations croisées ont permis de montrer que cette dimension est floue et « in-discutée ». Nous avons alors avancé l’hypothèse que cette « in-discussion » pourrait s’expliquer par des contradictions qui traverseraient les principes fondateurs du syndicat. Ces particularités de la dimension impersonnelle du « métier » de syndicaliste ont aussi des conséquences sur les autres dimensions du métier ce qui nous a conduit à interroger l’usage du mot « métier » pour évoquer l’activité syndicale. La réflexion se prolonge alors par une discussion de la conceptualisation de la dimension impersonnelle du métier en clinique de l’activité. Alors qu’elle est souvent définie de manière imprécise comme ce qui relève indifféremment de la prescription, des tâches ou des fonctions, il est proposé de concevoir cette dimension comme un rapport entre des buts et des moyens donnés par l’organisation. Le travail réalisé sur les spécificités de la dimension impersonnelle du « métier » de syndicaliste permet également de préciser la notion de but : elle contiendrait distinctement des buts généraux et des buts issus de l’organisation du travail. / This thesis seeks to explore, from a “transformation-action” in a “non-ordinary” workplace such as a trade union county branch, the specificities of the impersonal dimension experienced in the occupation of trade unionist.The transformation-action took place within a group of activists from a high school teachers’ trade union that collectively analyzed their own activity within the union. It was conducted according to the activity clinics consistent methods and methodologies. This transformation action was unusual in the way it was conducted and in that the content was co-produced by activists themselves. Following research and literature related on unionism analyzed as being a working activity as well as occupations in the field of social work, this characteristic became itself an object of research. This was identified as one of the trade unionist occupation’s four dimensions, the impersonal dimension.The analysis carried out on “crossed self-confrontation” material showed that this dimension is poorly defined and "not-discussed". We suggest that this "non-discussion" could be explained by existing contradictions within the Union founding principles themselves. The characteristics of the impersonal dimension of the trade unionist occupation also has effects on the other dimensions of the occupation; this has led us to question the use of the word occupation to describe the union activity.The debate is to be continued with a discussion of the conceptualization of the occupation impersonal dimension in the field of clinic of activity. Often described in indistinct terms as it relates either to the prescription, or to the tasks or functions, it is suggested to develop this dimension as being a link between goals and means given by the organization. The work based on the specificities of the impersonal dimension of the trade unionist occupation also clarifies the goal concept : it contains general goals on one hand and goals from the work organization on the other hand.