Is low unionisation in the British hospitality industry due to industry characteristics?

Low recognition and concomitant characteristics of a union presence are key factors associated with very low union membership in the British hospitality industry (HI) but there may be exceptional factors in the HI that render it more amenable to union membership after standard explanations are accounted for. Although the lessons for unions are to seek greater employer legitimacy at the same time as securing membership, recognition rates would have to increase by six times to double the rate of union density in the HI and satisfy ‘frustrated’ demand for unionisation. Questions are also raised about the utility of the statutory recognition procedures and current union organising and retention strategies.