There is an interesting article in todays Guardian in which Gregor Gall highlights the position of unions in the UK in relation to the G20 demonstrations and against the backdrop of the activity of our opposite numbers in Europe, his article ends;"Unions in Britain could learn a lot from their mainland European cousins. In France, Greece, and Italy in particular, the unions do not just call demonstrations of hundreds of thousands (although that would be a start in Britain). Rather, they organise general strikes – sometimes consecutive general strikes – from which the demonstrations then allow the power of the strike to be clearly made visible and its demand loudly articulated. This means their arguments become a force to be reckoned with.
And, although not all these general strikes have won all their demands, their success rate should be enough to make workers in Britain sit up and take notice. Certainly, our European cousins' actions make the welcome initiative by Unite to hold a "massive" demonstration in Birmingham on 16 May 2009 against job cuts look like child's play. Unions need to understand there has to be obvious and demonstrable muscle behind their arguments. Isn't it about time unions in Britain took a leaf from their French, Italian or Greek counterparts' book?"
And, although not all these general strikes have won all their demands, their success rate should be enough to make workers in Britain sit up and take notice. Certainly, our European cousins' actions make the welcome initiative by Unite to hold a "massive" demonstration in Birmingham on 16 May 2009 against job cuts look like child's play. Unions need to understand there has to be obvious and demonstrable muscle behind their arguments. Isn't it about time unions in Britain took a leaf from their French, Italian or Greek counterparts' book?"
The full article can be viewed here;
