Intra-Industry Differences II: Why Unions Differ

Abstract

This chapter turns to intra-sectoral differences in union strategy and structure, an important aspect of the Strategy-Structure-Institutions (SSI) Framework explained in Chapter 1. The chapter compares the historical evolution of Nissan Roren and that of the Toyota Roren case presented in Chapter 4. Compared to Toyota Roren, Nissan Roren formulated a clearer strategy of organizing smaller suppliers in an earlier period (in the late 1950s). Consequently, Nissan's roren was much more centralized, with respect to union finance, personnel, and collective bargaining until pressure from the 1990s to decentralize and diversify.