Trade Union Identity Under Challenge?

Working Lives Research Institute seminar series
Trade Union Identity Under Challenge?

*Union decline and Community Unionism
Professor Jane Wills, Queen Mary University of London & Andy Snoddy,
Unite (TGWU)

Thursday 29th November, 5.30-7.30pm
London Metropolitan University
31 Jewry St, London, EC3N 2EY
Room JS3-85*

Over the last few years there is a growing interest in the idea of
'community
unionism' as a potential organising approach for rebuilding the labour
movement,
yet its meaning is unclear. The widespread but undefined use of the term
'community unionism' is often unhelpful as the term is interpreted in a
myriad of
ways and it seems to mean all things to all people. However at its
basic, and in
today's climate whereby union membership decline has caused unions to
rethink
their organising approaches, it implies a renewed relationship between
and trade
unions and wider 'communities'.

In this presentation Professor Jane Wills, who has written widely in
this area, will
explore the reasons why some unions are finding renewed impetus to develop
closer relationships with non-labour organisation, highlighting the
significance of
subcontracting, temporary labour and changing identities at work. The
presentation
will use examples from London Citizens' London living wage campaign and
will be
followed by a presentation from Andy Snoddy from Unite (TGWU) who will speak
about the advantages and difficulties of community/trade union link ups
from a
trade union perspective.


This event is free, open to all, and there is no need to register
Contact Max Watson, WLRI Research Administrator, in JS2-77
Further enquiries, call: 0207 320 3010 email: m.watson@londonmet.ac.uk
WLRI