Fringe Report: Unions 21 at Scottish TUC

1. David Coats, The Work Foundation:

The economic downturn is global, when Gordon Brown says that, he is justified. There is a question of how the world will look at the end of the recession. It would be a disaster if we were to look inwards at Scotland, we need to work together. We need to restrain the excesses of global markets but maintain free trade.

 

So what can unions do?

Globally unions have played a smart game by arguing for the fiscal stimulus, regulation of global markets and arguing for decent labour conditions. So that if you are wanting access to the markets of developed countries and you’re a developing country you have to ensure labour standards are respected.

 

Unions should argue for more borrowing/spending; a short time working scheme; an increase in Job Seekers Allowance; more investment in job seeker plus; public investment in housing health, education; action to tackle youth unemployment; more help for the poorest family by increase in working tax credit; a decrease in working hours to protect jobs.

 

Workers have more rights to information and consultation than ever before. But are using them less. There is an opportunity to use these rights to get a foot in the door of better workplace representation.

 

It would be easy to say that unions will always lose members. In the US unions had 12-13% density before Wall Street crash. By the end of 1930s it grew to a density in the mid thirties %.

 

Unions can make the recession into an opportunity.

 

2. Prof Gregor Gall, University of Hertfordshire:

 

An event becomes an opportunity for an organisation if it has the capacity to make it one, this is the case for unions and the recession.

 

Unions need to put forward a credible alternative to what is happening politically.

 

Unions have less power during a recession than during times of growth. The level of industrial resistance to the recession has been little: There have only been a few examples of factory occupations and strikes. Unions need to do more.

 

Unions are likely to lose members in the recession in finance, manufacturing and private services.

 

Some members are joining because they face redundancy. Members tend to leave unions when they become unemployed which is not the case in Scandinavian countries.

 

The recession will lead to a reduction of collective bargaining/recognition where unionised workplaces are closing down.

 

In conclusion,: Unions do have ideas but they have not mobilised yet in the way they need to.

 

3. Anne Douglas, Prospect National Officer

 

Recruitment

 

There are opportunities – the number of enquiries are increasing because people are encountering problems in the workplace. The threat is: though we have the competence there is a challenge because of the stretch on the time of officers to service members.

 

Organisation:

Big opportunities: memberships are becoming invigorated because of the situations they are going through. The recession helps members get whole memberships behind a campaign.

 

The recession has pulled people together and there is a large amount of solidarity and cohesion.

 

Engagement is increasing because employers are looking to employees to get through the hard times together.

 

One way people are engaging is on the skills agenda which is the most important for both sides going forward. The skills agenda will make us more competitive in the long term.

 

Politics

 

The opportunity is there to engage more, and politicians are listening more. However, the electorate will allocate blame whether or not it is justified. If the government changes that is the biggest threat to trade unionists going forward.

 

4. Frank Doran MP, Secretary of the Trade Union Group of MPs

 

There is uncertainty. Recession gives both opportunities and threats. Through the years of opposition the TUs hardly engaged with the Tory Government.

 

However, the Tory Government over 18 years hardly ever made the effort to meet union officers which is in contrast to the present government.

 

Due to fluctuation in oil prices the oil and gas industries are having to renegotiate contracts, and that has consequences for the work force.

 

The choice is to take industrial action as they have in Dundee or attempt to negotiate.

 

Unions are providing debt counselling services and that is constructive and good.

 

Most predictions say 3m unemployed.

 

Most of the problem is currently in the private sector but due to 15 billion spending reduction proposed by the chancellor there will be issues for the public sector.

 

I would encourage unions to have a recession strategy, a retention strategy, which involves keeping in contact with those made redundant (those who do have one include GMB and USDAW). There needs to be a strategy on this to provide services for unemployed members.

 

The other consideration is the effect on the skills base on people in private industries. Employers who cannot find workers locally with the right skills will look to workers in other countries.