The Return of the Unions?
May 13 2006 13:25
Are we going to witness the return of genuinely mass-supported trade unions? A more social-democratic approach to Labour? Where would propa' socialists fit into all this?
Things on the cards;
* The possible formation of a 'mega'-union (between Amicus, TGWU, GMB and Unison)
* The Trade Union Freedom Bill
* Increased union members?
* More struggle against low-pay?
Hell, the fuckin' Fabian society has even issued a revised Clause 4. Better 'life chances' - my arse!
I then read this article, and it totally discussed many of the issues;
Quote:
Is union man back?Martin Bright
Monday 1st May 2006
As public sector workers get restive and rich donors back off, the Labour Party is being forced to reassess the importance of the trade unions. The balance of power is starting to shift, reports Martin Bright
Strikes are looming in the health service to protect jobs threatened by the NHS funding crisis; speculation is rife over the creation of a merged "mega-union" with power to challenge the government; and the Labour Party is thrown back on union supporters as wealthy individual donors bale out.
May 13 2006 14:17
#2
WeTheYouth wrote:
The merger is firstly to try and consolidate the strength of the unions as they are losing members left right and centre. I dont know about the trade union freedom bill, but union membership is decreasing
I thought membership was increasing at the moment? the past year anyway following years of decline. But generally nah I think most of this stuff is hot air.
May 13 2006 18:27
#3
John. wrote:
WeTheYouth wrote:
The merger is firstly to try and consolidate the strength of the unions as they are losing members left right and centre. I dont know about the trade union freedom bill, but union membership is decreasingI thought membership was increasing at the moment? the past year anyway following years of decline. But generally nah I think most of this stuff is hot air.
Well when that freedom come round with union figures it said that it was on the decline, have things changed since then, if so where would i look for the figures?
May 13 2006 18:51
#4
TUC website wouldprobably be the best bet
May 13 2006 19:06
#5
ftony wrote:
TUC website wouldprobably be the best bet
Ill have a look in a bit, cheers.
May 13 2006 19:28
#6
Yeah figures have rebounded a little bit since, mainly down to a couple of major fights which have raised the profile (pensions being a big one, also NHS if Unison actually manage to get their finger out and even start posturing about it let alone making threats).
But tbh it's more depressing than a sign of unions getting their act together, as we're going through a time of more attacks on working class power and the institutions won decades ago than ever before, and the fact that if there has been growth it has been minimal, despite the opportunities inherent in such a situation for recruitment and militancy, is a sign that 'union man' is well and truly hiding behind the sofa.
There's little sign where I work (okay it's a fairly wiberal/right-wing shopfloor on a newspaper) that any of the older types are anything but bitter and defeated or that any of the younger ones have the faintest clue what solidarity and unity can do - and wouldn't believe you if you told them (I've only just moved to this new place though so will have a go at changing things...).
The merger is firstly to try and consolidate the strength of the unions as they are losing members left right and centre. I dont know about the trade union freedom bill, but union membership is decreasing, and as far as i can see especially in my union, unions are usually happy to take below or just at inflation increases.