Conference on union organising
for trade unionists, academics and others in the labour movement
Organised by London Union Organisers Network

To be held at London Metropolitan University in November 2008
Saturday 8th November 9.30-4.30

*Call for interest in presenting or running a session*

2008 marks the 10th anniversary of British trade union’s turn to organising and the launch of the TUC’s organising academy. We plan to celebrate some of our many successes over that period; the disputes won by application of the organising methods, the re-birth of greenfield organising, the ‘in-fill’ campaigns, the hard fought recognition disputes and perhaps more than anything the death of the previously near universal belief in inevitable decline.

We also hope to look at some international comparisons, with colleagues sharing their experience in American, Australia and New Zealand. However we will also be asking some important questions at the heart of the ‘organising agenda’. For example:

- Are there competing models of organising and if so, how do we evaluate which are the most appropriate/effective in different circumstances?

- How does the geography(ies) of employment impact on the ability to organise at local, national and global levels?

- Has the turn to union organising created greater diversity in the union movement?

- With the impact of globalisation, and the loss of manufacturing, where is the movement's power?

- Does organising at the shop stewards level require political education, and if so, how is this to be provided?

- Is it possible to organise effectively if there is a separation between organising and bargaining? Are partnership and organising models in/compatible?

- Why has the concept of organising, which is almost universally promoted by trade unions, had so little impact on established on the thinking and actions of the majority of lay union reps?

- Can you organise from the top down? And if not how can we promote organising amongst the grass roots of our movement?

- What is the role of corporate research in strategising campaigns?

- What is community unionism, and under what circumstances can it deliver results?

The conference will include plenaries and a individual streams based on a number of common themes. Each session will involve a mixture of trade union organisers, lay union reps and academics.
Note: can academics please try to ensure a co-trade unionist/practitioner presenter is included in your session.

If you want to present a session, then please let us know and provide us with a brief summary (500-750 words) of what you wish to cover by 4 June 2008.

Contact Jane Holgate
j.holgate@londonmet.ac.uk