New Unionism
Encyclopedia
New Unionism is a term which has been used twice in the history of the labour movement
, both times involving moves to broaden the trade union
agenda.
trade union
movement in the late 1880s. The New Unions differed from the older craft unions in several respects.
In recent decades the traditional view of the New Unions as militant, fighting unions informed by a socialist politics has been modified. Although the New Unions sponsored many large strikes in their early years, most in fact favoured conciliation and accommodation with the employers. Similarly, although New Union leaders espoused socialism it was often of a moderate kind.
The most prominent New Unions were:
published "The New Unionism: Employee Involvement in the Changing Corporation" (Industrial and Labor Relations Review
, Vol. 42, No. 3 Apr., 1989, pp. 463–465), and this became one of a series of influential papers which encouraged the union movement to reconsider questions of industrial democracy
. The UK Trades Union Congress
ran an ambitious New Unionism project from 1997 to 2003, seeking to apply a dual strategy of organizing and partnership in an attempt to reinvigorate the union movement. This period saw an end to the decline in union membership, but the net effect is still subject to debate within the movement. See http://www.tuc.org.uk/newunionism/
More recently unions such as the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU) in North America and the Public Services Association
(PSA) in New Zealand have combined innovative organizing and partnership combinations with notable success, leading to large and sustained membership gains (about 50% in each case) and increased influence and activism at workplace level.
An international New Unionism network was launched in 2007 to bring unionists and labour supporters together around developing and applying these principles. The network provides fora and other resources for those interested in implementing the agenda.
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
, both times involving moves to broaden the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
agenda.
1880s
First was the development within the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement in the late 1880s. The New Unions differed from the older craft unions in several respects.
- They were generally less exclusive than craft unions and attempted to recruit a wide range of workers. To encourage more workers to join, the New Unions kept their entrance fees and contributions at a relatively low level. Some new unions, such as the Dockers' UnionDock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' UnionThe Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers Union was a British trade union. It emerged in response to the outbreak of the London Dock Strike in 1889 and rapidly became the principal union for dockworkers in London, Bristol, Cardiff, and other ports in the south and south-west. In South Wales...
and the GasworkersGMB UnionThe GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service...
developed in the direction of general unionGeneral unionA General Union is a trade union which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organization or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union...
ism. - They recruited unskilled and semi-skilled workers, such as dockers, seamen, gasworkers and general labourers.
- At the outset, the New Unions were associated with militancy and willingness to take industrial actionIndustrial actionIndustrial action or job action refers collectively to any measure taken by trade unions or other organised labour meant to reduce productivity in a workplace. Quite often it is used and interpreted as a euphemism for strike, but the scope is much wider...
, unlike the more conciliatory craft unions. A notable strike associated with the New Unions was the London Dock Strike of 1889London Dock Strike of 1889The London Dock Strike was an industrial dispute involving dock workers in the Port of London. It broke out on 14 August 1889, and resulted in a victory for the strikers and established strong trade unions amongst London dockers, one of which became the nationally important Dock, Wharf, Riverside...
. - Many of the New Unions had leaders who espoused socialistSocialismSocialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
ideas. Such leaders included Tom MannTom MannTom Mann was a noted British trade unionist. Largely self-educated, Mann became a successful organiser and a popular public speaker in the labour movement.-Early years:...
, Ben TillettBen TillettBenjamin Tillett was a British socialist, trade union leader and politician. He was born in Bristol and began his working life as a sailor, before travelling to London and taking up work as a docker....
, Will ThorneWill ThorneWilliam James Thorne CBE , known as Will Thorne, was a British trade unionist, activist and one of the first Labour Members of Parliament .-Early years:...
and John BurnsJohn BurnsJohn Elliot Burns was an English trade unionist and politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly associated with London politics. He was a socialist and then a Liberal Member of Parliament and Minister. He was anti-alcohol and a keen sportsman...
.
In recent decades the traditional view of the New Unions as militant, fighting unions informed by a socialist politics has been modified. Although the New Unions sponsored many large strikes in their early years, most in fact favoured conciliation and accommodation with the employers. Similarly, although New Union leaders espoused socialism it was often of a moderate kind.
The most prominent New Unions were:
- Dockers' UnionDock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' UnionThe Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers Union was a British trade union. It emerged in response to the outbreak of the London Dock Strike in 1889 and rapidly became the principal union for dockworkers in London, Bristol, Cardiff, and other ports in the south and south-west. In South Wales...
- National Union of Dock LabourersNational Union of Dock LabourersThe National Union of Dock Labourers was a trade union in the United Kingdom. It was formed in Glasgow in 1889 but moved its headquarters to Liverpool within a few years and was thereafter most closely associated with Merseyside...
- Gasworkers UnionGMB UnionThe GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service...
- National Sailors' and Firemen's UnionNational Union of SeamenThe National Union of Seamen was the principal trade union of merchant seafarers in the United Kingdom from the late 1880s to 1990. In 1990, the union amalgamated with the National Union of Railwaymen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers .- The National Amalgamated...
1980s
The second time the term New Unionism was used covers a period from the late 1980s until the present day. In 1989 US labour relations academic Charles HeckscherCharles Heckscher
Charles Heckscher is a professor in the Department of Labor Studies and Employment at Rutgers University, and director of the Center for Workplace Transformation at Rutgers....
published "The New Unionism: Employee Involvement in the Changing Corporation" (Industrial and Labor Relations Review
Industrial and Labor Relations Review
Industrial and Labor Relations Review is a publication of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. It is an interdisciplinary journal publishing original research on all aspects of industrial relations...
, Vol. 42, No. 3 Apr., 1989, pp. 463–465), and this became one of a series of influential papers which encouraged the union movement to reconsider questions of industrial democracy
Industrial democracy
Industrial democracy is an arrangement which involves workers making decisions, sharing responsibility and authority in the workplace. While in participative management organizational designs workers are listened to and take part in the decision-making process, in organizations employing industrial...
. The UK Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
ran an ambitious New Unionism project from 1997 to 2003, seeking to apply a dual strategy of organizing and partnership in an attempt to reinvigorate the union movement. This period saw an end to the decline in union membership, but the net effect is still subject to debate within the movement. See http://www.tuc.org.uk/newunionism/
More recently unions such as the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
(SEIU) in North America and the Public Services Association
Public Services Association
The Public Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago is a trade union in Trinidad and Tobago. It was originally known as the Civil Service Association but changed its name in 1971....
(PSA) in New Zealand have combined innovative organizing and partnership combinations with notable success, leading to large and sustained membership gains (about 50% in each case) and increased influence and activism at workplace level.
An international New Unionism network was launched in 2007 to bring unionists and labour supporters together around developing and applying these principles. The network provides fora and other resources for those interested in implementing the agenda.