Geographical Union Identity

This chapter explores geographical union identity which is projected by unions with membership territories other than those of Great Britain or the UK. These unions project three forms of geographical identity, namely, ‘subnational union identity’, where unions such as SSTA organise an area within Great Britain, ‘binational union identity’ where unions including NUJ are based in two countries, or ‘multinational union identity’ where unions operate in multiple countries as represented by Nautilus, which was formed by cross-border mergers. The analysis recognises that four Northern Irish unions are certified separately and that some Irish unions also organise there. The chapter explores the observable characteristics of geographical union identity together with the impact of mergers, membership benefits, affiliations and political alignment. The work identifies the potentialities for union responses to any reconfiguration of the UK following either Scottish independence and/or the reunification of Ireland and for the formation of multinational unions in order to provide a more effective challenge to multinational capitalism.