Maintaining the ‘Status Quo’? An Analysis of the Contents of British Collective Agreements, 1979–1990

The contents of over 100 collective agreements, drawn from 50 bargaining units in both 1979 and 1990, are examined. Recognition clauses remain largely extant. Some extension and formalization of procedural provisions is recorded, particularly regarding time off work for shop‐stewards. Closed‐shop clauses are deleted from a number of mainly white‐collar agreements but remain extant in the majority of manual agreements. More flexible working practices are recorded in many agreements. The form of flexibility agreement varies markedly, with some agreements demonstrating greater formalization and others shifting towards more general managerial prerogative clauses. Possible explanations for this pattern are considered.