Towards Social Movement Unionism?: How Labour Organisations Can Succeed in a Globalised Era

The labour movement faces a critical point in its history. A prolonged period of economic uncertainty and austerity has placed workers on the defensive. The ‘gig economy’ brings precarious employment for millions, traditional industries are threatened, and Brexit brings the prospect of British de-regulation and economic disaster. Might Trade Unions be able to provide some resistance and defend the interests of workers? Can these organisations, created in and for a different era, be effective in a globalised world that they were never meant to operate in? To ask such questions is not new. For a generation there have been doubts as to the relevance of Trade Unions in a changing world. This book revisits research undertaken over a decade ago to understand the trajectory the labour movement has been on, and its possible destination. Examining attitudes, behaviours and actions makes it clear that the past provides many pertinent lessons for those tasked with setting the direction for the future.