The conference will explore what unions might look like in the year 2020. It aims to be lively and challenging and several different visions or forecasts will be aired and discussed. It is being jointly organised by Unions 21, a progressive Union think tank; and the group of specialist, managerial and managerial unions (known as the SMP group) which meets regularly under TUC auspices, though all interested unions, academics, journalists and other commentators are welcome.
 
The conference will be structured around 4 main overlapping themes:
Organisation – will the trend towards mergers continue? Will new forms of organisation (perhaps using ICT) emerge? Will unions federate?  link up with other employee groups such as professional associations?  work more closely with campaigning groups?
Activity and Services to members – what issues will engage unions? what will their members want? How will unions relate to employers? What kinds of unions will the 2020 workforce want?
Power – How will unions engage with governments? Scotland, Wales, and N.I.? Global and EU forces? Or will unions seek to engage more with non-governmental sources of power such as employer or regulatory bodies?
Style and Image – What will unions look like? How will they seek to attract new members? Will there be greater variety in the kinds of unions? How will unions be seen in the public eye?

A number of commentators have been invited to make short outline contributions introducing each of the 4 themes, after which there will be workshop discussions. The day will close with a panel discussion which will offer some concluding reflections.
 
If you wish to attend please complete the attached registration form and return to Joanne Adams on jadams@tuc.org.uk [1] or fax to 020 7467 1265.