Overview

Roger joined Templeton, or as it was then called the Oxford Centre for Management Studies, in 1972. Prior to that he was a maintenance fitter at Boots Ltd Nottingham, before studying at both Wadham College and Ruskin College Oxford.

In his period at Templeton he held the posts of Acting President, Vice-President, Dean and Senior Tutor. He also directed the MSc in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management for many years and was Director of the Oxford Institute for Employee Relations from 1984 to 2006.He was appointed University Lecturer at the Said Business School in 1994 and taught on a wide range of post-graduate and executive courses until 2006. He is presently Chairman of the MBA (and associated) Examining Boards.

He has written widely in the area of industrial relations including five books and published some 50 articles and chapters. His latest book “Trade Union Merger Strategies” (OUP) 2008 follows some twenty years of research and sheds new light on the process, purpose and performance of merged unions. Previously, in 1996, Managing the Unions (OUP) was included in Princeton University`s 1997 distinguished list of IR and Labour Economics publications.

Much of his research and teaching has also focussed on the interface between government and trade unions including a series of programmes involving ministers of state, trade union leaders and industrialists examining the future of work. In 1995-6 he also co-directed a programme for the Labour Party`s Shadow Cabinet in preparation for Government and subsequently worked on proposals for the Low Pay Commission and labour legislation.  

Research interests

Causes, consequences and outcomes of trade union mergers.
Industrial relations and trade unions.

Books:

Undy, R.,  Trade Union Merger Strategies OUP 2008.

Undy, R., Fosh, P., Morris, H., Smith, P., and Martin, R., Managing the Unions, Clarendon Press, 1996.

Jennings, C., McCarthy, W.E.J., & Undy, R., Employee Relations Audits, Routledge, 1990.

Undy, R., & Martin, R., Ballots and Trade Union Democracy, Blackwell, 1984.

Undy, R., Ellis, V., McCarthy, W.E.J., & Halmos, A.M., Change in Trade Unions, Hutchinson, 1981.

Book chapters:

Undy, R., 'Trade Unions and the Employment Relationship', in: Towers, B. (Ed.), Handbook of Employment Relations Law & Practice, Kogan Page, 2003.

Undy, R., Fosh, P., Martin, R., Morris, H., and Smith P., 'British Trade Unions’ Strategies in a Hostile Environment 1980-1993', in: Leisink., Van Leemput, J., and Vilrokx, J. (Ed.), The Challenges to Trade Unions in Europe, Edward Elgar, 1995.

Undy, R., 'Trade Unions', in: Nicholson, N. (Ed.), Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Organizational Behaviour, Blackwell, 1995.

Journal articles:

Undy, R., 'New Labour and New Unionism 1997-2001: But is it the Same Old Story?', Employee Relations, Vol.24:6, 2002, pp.638-655.

Undy, R., Kessler, I., & Thompson, M., 'The Impact of the National Minimum Wage in the Apparel Industry', Industrial Relations Journal, Vol.33:4, 2002, pp.351-364.

Kessler, I., Jennings, S. & Undy, R, 'Employee Views on Information & Consultation', European Industrial Relations Review, Vol.309, 1999.

Undy, R., 'Negotiating Amalgamations: Territorial & Political Consolidation and Administrative Reform in Public-Sector Service Unions in the UK.', British Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol.37:3, 1999, pp.445-463.

Undy, R., 'New Labour's Industrial Relations Settlement: The Third Way?', British Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol.37:2, 1999, pp.315-336.

Undy, R., 'The British Merger Movement: the importance of the aggressive unions', Industrial Relations Journal, Vol.30:5, 1999, pp.464-481.

Kessler, I. & Undy, R., 'Battered by the Winds of Change', Local Government Chronicle, Vol.January, 1996.

Undy, R., 'Review Essay: Mergers & Union Restructuring : Externally Determined Waves or Internally Generated Reforms?', Historical Studies in Industrial Relations, Vol.2, 1996.

Martin, R., Smith, P., Fosh, P., Morris, H. and Undy, R., 'The legislative reform of union government 1979-94', Industrial Relations Journal, Vol.26:2, 1995.