Keele Research Repository

As one of most pivotal themes in trade union study within the western world, the debate upon union revitalization continues for a long time. On the basis of reviewing classic English literature, the paper summarizes three core issues in discussion, namely the union's dualism of conflict, the mechanisms and performance of union renewal, as well as new models and strategies employed by the trade unions in reform. In addition, the essence of the trade union in the western world has also been critically analysed. Therefore, the paper also elaborates on the inspiration of union revitalization study from three perspectives, i.e. multiplicity of conflicts, the key elementoriented framework, and differientiation between objectives and practical strategies.