Voices from the movement: What can the Trade Union Act tell us about trade union organising?

It is easy to think of the Trade Union Act (2016) as 'Thatcher Round 2': the economic strategy of austerity once again pits the haves against the have-nots, creating the potential for a re-invigorated trade union movement to return to its economically disruptive habits, which the governmen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Renewal (London, England) England), 2017-06, Vol.25 (2), p.59
Main Authors: Porter, Fenella, Blakey, Heather, Chater, Michael, Chesters, Graeme, Hannam, Matt, Manborde, Ian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Austerity policy
Conservatism
Density
Disputes
Economic policy
Focus groups
Habits
Industrial action
Interviews
Labor unions
Laws, regulations and rules
Legislation
Neoliberalism
Political activism
Privatization
Public sector
Renewal
Researchers
Union leadership
Union membership
Unionization
United Kingdom
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Summary:It is easy to think of the Trade Union Act (2016) as 'Thatcher Round 2': the economic strategy of austerity once again pits the haves against the have-nots, creating the potential for a re-invigorated trade union movement to return to its economically disruptive habits, which the government seeks to constrict. Thus, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady condemned the Conservatives for 'refighting the battles of the 1980s' instead of taking a more constructive approach. However, while the trade union legislation of the 1980s followed a decade marked by entrenched union disputes, the Trade Union Act (2016) has been introduced against a very different backdrop. The UK currently has historically low levels of industrial action, stagnating levels of union membership and limited areas of union density. Porter et al offers a snapshot of views from within the movement. These are certainly not representative, but are, rather, voices for change: activists reflecting on the Act, on the movement itself, and on possibilities for renewal.
ISSN:0968-252X