An American consultancy accused of bringing 'union-busting' tactics to Britain has been condemned for its 'unfortunate track record' by a government committee, but allowed to continue operating in this country. The Burke Group, based in Malibu, California, advertises itself as a 'management consulting firm specialising in union avoidance and preventative industrial labour relations'. It is one of several US 'union-busting' consultants which has caused alarm at the TUC about the use of underhand methods to persuade British workers against joining unions. A recent report for the TUC said union-busting is a multi-billion-dollar business in the US and consultants from firms such as the Burke Group have been so successful that, despite some 60 million Americans saying that they would like to join a union, membership currently stands at just 7.5 per cent of the US private sector workforce.
The Guardian