Peter HJ
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Re:Whatever happened to "new unionism" in the UK? - 09/11/2006 02:52
Thanks Paul, I'll give you a call. And thanks to Gary too, for a very considered response. I guess you folk have been mulling this question over for a fair few years now! My own experience with New Unionism began in New Zealand, where the Public Service Association turned around years and years of steep decline by adopting a partnership-based approach (which they called "partnership for quality"). If I understand what happened correctly, they began in a top down kind of way, but it really kicked in at membership level when they started getting creative and imaginative about how to link this approach to organizing (and vice versa). They have seen membership growing strongly ever since... the union must have grown by almost 40% since 2001.
The opposite path seems to have led to the same destination for one of the huge unions in the States (mere mention of their name can cause nosebleeds and apoplexy!). They started with a determined organizing focus, and then began to inform this with strategic decisions on how best to implement partnership. They, too, have been growing very fast.
It's worth noting that both unions have also put a heavy emphasis on promoting quality services.
I know... these stories are far more complex than an off the cuff summary could ever convey, but it seems to me that the key to rejuvenating the union movement is to seek creative ways of letting organizing and partnership complement and modify each other. In both cases this generated a real buzz at membership level. If you've read "What Workers Want" (Freeman and Rogers) you'll see why. It's what workers want! Whether it's a George Bush or a Helen Clarke doesn't seem to be the determining factor.
I know you have seen similar successes in the UK. But I tend to agree with you, Gary -- Blair has made the UK version of New Unionism look like a very looong uphill battle! It'd be really good to hear from trade unionists in other countries on this issue.
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