Trade Unions In the Nineties: a Strategy for socialists, by Andy Kilminster and Alan Thornett Published by Socialist Outlook Reviewed by Kelth Sinclair THIS PAMPHLET is directed at trade union activists. It examines and provides an analysis that explains clearly the current state of the British trade union movement.
However, the pamphlet purpose is not simply to describe. It also aims to help build a fightback against the employers and the government.
The pamphlet starts with a sober analysis of the state of the unions to-day.
The number of trade unionist has declined to 6.9 million and the number of strike davs at a hundred year low. In addition, there has been an important change in the make-up of the members of Public sector workers are now far more likely to be unionised than those in the private sector. In 1994 only es per cent of private sector workers were unionised.
However, the pamphlet is quick to reject the idea that the days of trade unions are definitely over. are no easy answers, that those who look to tae europcan Unloa as our saviour are sadly mistaken and thay the ideas of the vast maTUC offer no hope to workers whether organised or not.
The role of the anti-union laws is outlined and its impact on un. ions shown clearly. The authors point out that many union leader. ships assume that actions are illegal even when it is not necessarily the case. Examples where the law has been successfully defied are highlighted particularly in the Post Office.
New management The authors point out the structural significance of the various New Management techniques that abound in the private sector and have increasingly crept into the public sector.
The need for a united front approach is spelt our. The importance of placing demands on union leaders is highlighted as is the need for a consistent fight, at all levels of the unions, against the union bureaucracy.
The struggle within unions is not helped by the poor state of the organised left within individual unions. In some, the organised left consists of a secret caucus, in oth ers competing left formations fight for support.
Only in a handful of unions are there left organisations with a membership in the hundreds let alone the thousands we would The pamphlet concludes by outlining the way forward for socialists in the unions. The need to cate to young workers and to promote the role of women and black workers is explained.
Examples of the type of campaigning which will attract mem. xers are explained, such at support for the Euro-March.
The need to build fighting. democratic. internationalist and political trade unionism is the core message of this pamphlet.
It should be essential reading for all trade unionists and socialSocialst Outlook