Paul Nowak
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Trade Union Recognition in Britain - An Emerging Crisis for Trade Unions? - 15/08/2006 17:04
This thread discusses the Content article: Trade Union Recognition in Britain - An Emerging Crisis for Trade Unions?
Lots of interesting stuff here Gregor. Thought I'd just draw out two or three key points and flag up how these link in to current TUC work to support union organising efforts.
First of all as you rightly state unions need to think about "[considering] more strategically which campaigns they mount with a view to raising their 'strike rate'". My view is that all too often resources are directed at campaigns that either have little strategic value or are 'unwinnable'. Good organisers and precious resources are thrown at campaigns which even if they are ultimately successful do little to increase union leverage, density or power in a given sector. So we need to think much more 'smartly' about the campaigns we run - and we need to run these campaigns much more smartly as well, complementing workplace organising strategies with other forms of leverage. Some unions are already moving in this direction, as is the TUC. The TUC Organising Academy ran its first 'Strategic Organising & Campaigning' training module this year, and we are talking to unions in the UK and beyond with a view to developing an Organising Academy style programme for union researchers focussed on strategic research and corporate campaigns.
Secondly, again as you rightly point out, if we are serious about making a step change in our organising efforts, we need to find ways of engaging reps and activists in this process (as well as expanding and deepening our reps base). One key element here is making sure that unions put the ability to organise at the heart of collective bargaining strategies - winning back lost ground on time-off for training and union duties, and union facilities which we have conceded slowly but surely to employers over the last 15-20 years. Paul Willman and Alex Bryson have done some interesting work on this issue for the TUC based on WERS data, and we used this to inform the 'Bargaining to Organise' (www.tuc.org.uk/b2o) campaign which we launched back in October last year. We’ll also be using this work as a starting point to our input into the forthcoming review of facilities and support for workplace reps recently announced by the DTI.
Third quick point I'd draw out of your piece is the need for unions to break out of our traditional ‘strongholds' in manufacturing and the public sector. I think the recent GMB agreement in G4S, TGWU campaigns amongst contract cleaners in Canary Wharf and work in budget airlines, USDAW's work in a difficult contect in retail,and Amicus's continuing successes in the voluntary sector show that unions can, and are beginning to, move into areas where we have traditionally struggled. But you're right, we need to step up this work -and we also need to make that unions make the best of their (in comparison to employers) limited resources by supporting inter-union co-operation in these sectors. The TUC's General Council recently agreed a package of measure aimed at helping unions work together more effectively and this will be a point of discussion at this years Congress as well.
Sorry haven't got time to go through all the points I wanted to raise, but would wlecome any thoughts others may have!
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