THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT AND AND

THE INTERNETTHE INTERNET

Naci GÜNDOĞANNaci GÜNDOĞANAnadolu University Anadolu University

66th Midwest Political Science 66th Midwest Political Science Association ConferenceAssociation Conference

Chicago, April 03-06, 2008Chicago, April 03-06, 2008

Trade union membership in some developed countriesTrade union membership in some developed countries Country 1980 1990 1995 2002

Germany 34.9 31.2 29.2 23.2

Austria 58.4 46.9 40.7 35.4

France 17.1 10.1 9.8 9.7

UK 55.1 39.3 34.1 30.4

Italy 54.5 38.8 38.1 34.0

USA - 16.1 14.3 12.8

Finland 69.4 72.2 78.0 71.2

Sweden 78.2 80.0 83.1 78.0

Japan - 25.4 24.0 20.3

Source: Waddington (2005) Trade Union Membership in Europe, ETUI-REHS, Brussels.

Why has union density declined?Why has union density declined?

►The main reasons:The main reasons:

►a dramatic fall in the number of jobs a dramatic fall in the number of jobs in manufacturing industries,in manufacturing industries,

►a fall in traditional full time a fall in traditional full time

employment and an increase in part employment and an increase in part time and temporary workers, time and temporary workers,

►an increase in the proportion of an increase in the proportion of the workforce employed by small the workforce employed by small companies,companies,

►larger numbers of unemployed larger numbers of unemployed people.people.

►How can be reversed union decline? How can be reversed union decline?

► Information and communication Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in particular the technologies (ICTs) in particular the internet have been presented as one internet have been presented as one solution. solution.

►The Internet isThe Internet is► relatively cheaprelatively cheap, , ► very fastvery fast, , ► truly globaltruly global, , ► available all the timeavailable all the time, , ► inter-activeinter-active,,► thethe hyperlinkhyperlink

►The internet began as a tool for the The internet began as a tool for the military and academics in the military and academics in the 1960s. 1960s.

►In the early 90s, web-browsers In the early 90s, web-browsers were developed, and the were developed, and the technology gradually permeated technology gradually permeated the mainstream, with email the mainstream, with email becoming a popular means of becoming a popular means of communication.communication.

The Internet and Trade UnionsThe Internet and Trade Unions

- History and Pioneers- History and Pioneers

►The first published suggestion that trade The first published suggestion that trade unionists might be able to use networked unionists might be able to use networked computers for such tasks as online computers for such tasks as online distance learning was made in 1972 by distance learning was made in 1972 by Charles "Chip" Levinson, in his book Charles "Chip" Levinson, in his book International Trade Unionism. International Trade Unionism.

►One of the premier networks began in One of the premier networks began in 1986 in Canada, SOLINET, (Solidarity 1986 in Canada, SOLINET, (Solidarity Computer Conferencing Network) was Computer Conferencing Network) was created by Marc Belanger. created by Marc Belanger.

► In 1991, LaborNet was founded to build a In 1991, LaborNet was founded to build a democratic communication network for democratic communication network for the labor movement. It is an independent the labor movement. It is an independent network that seeks to build up labor network that seeks to build up labor communication for all working people. communication for all working people. LaborNets are now established in the LaborNets are now established in the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Korea, Turkey, Japan. Korea, Turkey, Japan.

►Unison was the first union in the world to Unison was the first union in the world to set up a web site (1993) and became the set up a web site (1993) and became the first union to set up a free Internet first union to set up a free Internet service for its members through Poptel. service for its members through Poptel.

►LaborStart has a global network of volunteer LaborStart has a global network of volunteer correspondents updating headlines correspondents updating headlines throughout the day.throughout the day.

► In 2004, the global union federation, UNI-In 2004, the global union federation, UNI-Union International Network, launched a web-Union International Network, launched a web-based help desk to assist union web workers based help desk to assist union web workers in running or improving their web sites.in running or improving their web sites.

►Today, worldwide, the number of union web Today, worldwide, the number of union web sites has risen rapidly, as many developing sites has risen rapidly, as many developing country unions have gone on-line, and as the country unions have gone on-line, and as the Global Union Federations and International Global Union Federations and International Confederation of Free Trade Unions have Confederation of Free Trade Unions have made the Internet integral to their made the Internet integral to their operations. operations.

►There is no one site which gives a listing of There is no one site which gives a listing of all world trade union web sites because all world trade union web sites because there is no spesific union domain name to there is no spesific union domain name to facilitate the easy identification of union facilitate the easy identification of union websites. websites.

►The Internet Corporation for Assigned The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)Names and Numbers (ICANN), the private , the private group that determines domain names, group that determines domain names, rejected the request of the International rejected the request of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) to create a dot-union name. Whereas union to create a dot-union name. Whereas union domain name will broden the scope of issues domain name will broden the scope of issues brought to the emerging internet brought to the emerging internet community. community.

►The most recent attempt at a global The most recent attempt at a global inventory of union webpages was inventory of union webpages was undertaken by the London School of undertaken by the London School of Economics, in 2001. This survey claimed Economics, in 2001. This survey claimed to find a total of about 2,700 websites. to find a total of about 2,700 websites. The authors of this survey admit that The authors of this survey admit that they may have missed some sites, they may have missed some sites, particularly those not using the English particularly those not using the English language. language.

► In Europe, figures for the number of union In Europe, figures for the number of union websites included the UK in first place websites included the UK in first place (373), France in second place (181) and (373), France in second place (181) and Germany third (59). Germany third (59).

What is the Impact of the What is the Impact of the Internet on Trade Union Internet on Trade Union

Movement?Movement?

►Optimistic view:Optimistic view:

‘‘ICTs offer unions new ways of mobilising ICTs offer unions new ways of mobilising and engaging with members and and engaging with members and potential members, and that they create potential members, and that they create opportunities for strengthening the union opportunities for strengthening the union movement on an international scale’ movement on an international scale’ (E.Lee, R. Darlington, W. J. Diamond, R. (E.Lee, R. Darlington, W. J. Diamond, R. Freeman).Freeman).

►According to Eric Lee the internet would According to Eric Lee the internet would even allow the trade union movement to even allow the trade union movement to renew itself and fill key gaps in its national renew itself and fill key gaps in its national and international systems of and international systems of communication, leading to a broader and communication, leading to a broader and more meaningful dialogue within labour more meaningful dialogue within labour and beyond it. and beyond it.

►Diamond and Freeman argue that “the Diamond and Freeman argue that “the internet offers unions great opportunities internet offers unions great opportunities to improve services and attract members to improve services and attract members because it bridges gap between an because it bridges gap between an increasingly heterogeneous and increasingly heterogeneous and individualistic workforce and the collective individualistic workforce and the collective activity and solidarity that lies at the heart activity and solidarity that lies at the heart of trade unionism”.of trade unionism”.

►Pessimistic view:Pessimistic view:“ “ Increasing the use of the internet will Increasing the use of the internet will further undermine the role of traditional further undermine the role of traditional representative organisations. The internet representative organisations. The internet will render superfluous intermediate will render superfluous intermediate organizations since it can link individuals organizations since it can link individuals directly to firms and governments” directly to firms and governments” (Grossman, Corrado, Firestone, Negroponte, (Grossman, Corrado, Firestone, Negroponte, Castells). Castells). According to this view, the big losers from According to this view, the big losers from the web are the traditional institutions that the web are the traditional institutions that have served as the main intermediaries have served as the main intermediaries between government and its citizens - the between government and its citizens - the political parties, trade unions, civic political parties, trade unions, civic associations.associations.

► How is the internet changing unions?How is the internet changing unions?► Freeman: “the internet is changing unions from Freeman: “the internet is changing unions from

institution of the WEBBS to institution of the institution of the WEBBS to institution of the WEB”.WEB”.

► How can the trade union movement utilize from How can the trade union movement utilize from the internet?the internet?

► Organizing workers Organizing workers

In particular, trade unions have continued to In particular, trade unions have continued to find difficulty in organising growth areas of the find difficulty in organising growth areas of the labour market, especially amongst women and labour market, especially amongst women and non-standard employees. Women and young non-standard employees. Women and young workers are a particularly important target workers are a particularly important target group because of their increased share of these group because of their increased share of these employment growth areas.employment growth areas.

►Traditional union activities such as Traditional union activities such as meetings, continue to be held at meetings, continue to be held at times and in locations, which make it times and in locations, which make it extremely difficult for women or extremely difficult for women or those working non-standard hours to those working non-standard hours to attend. E-forms could better enable attend. E-forms could better enable increased participation and activism increased participation and activism among women and non-standard among women and non-standard employees. employees.

Internal and external Internal and external

communicationcommunication ► Internal communications can be improved Internal communications can be improved

through e-mail and intranets to allow through e-mail and intranets to allow union officials and staff to keep in touch union officials and staff to keep in touch and exchange information more easily.and exchange information more easily.

►External communication with members is External communication with members is enhanced by web sites and e-mails that enhanced by web sites and e-mails that allow information to be delivered in a allow information to be delivered in a timely and less costly manner than the timely and less costly manner than the traditional newsletter and mail-out, and traditional newsletter and mail-out, and also allow members to communicate also allow members to communicate more easily with officials. more easily with officials.

►Unlike traditional forms of Unlike traditional forms of communication that focus on one-communication that focus on one-to-one communication or one-to-to-one communication or one-to-many communication flows, many communication flows, internet tools, such as discussion internet tools, such as discussion boards, chat rooms and discussion boards, chat rooms and discussion lists, allow many-to-many lists, allow many-to-many communications and allow those communications and allow those who are time poor or who are time poor or geographically dispersed to geographically dispersed to participate. participate.

Services to membersServices to members ►The internet allows unions to meet the The internet allows unions to meet the

demand for better services to members. demand for better services to members. It can do this in three ways: It can do this in three ways:

►by improving the knowledge with which by improving the knowledge with which local representatives serve members; local representatives serve members;

►by providing general expert systems by providing general expert systems advice to workers; advice to workers;

►by providing individualized services to by providing individualized services to members based on their personal members based on their personal charasteristics.charasteristics.

► Box 1- UNISON MEMBERSHIP BENEFITSBox 1- UNISON MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

► UNISONFree.net and UNISONplus.netUNISONFree.net and UNISONplus.netThese services were being operated by a These services were being operated by a company called Real Poptel.company called Real Poptel.

► Online Legal AdviceOnline Legal Advice UNISON provides expert legal advice and UNISON provides expert legal advice and services, including free assistance with services, including free assistance with problems at work and an extended package of problems at work and an extended package of legal services for members and their families.legal services for members and their families.

► Learning and Organising ServicesLearning and Organising Services (LAOS) (LAOS) offers a wide range of learning opportunities, offers a wide range of learning opportunities, which range from basic skills through to which range from basic skills through to professional level qualifications for UNISON professional level qualifications for UNISON activists and members.activists and members.

SourceSource: http://www.unison.org.uk/benefits/index.asp: http://www.unison.org.uk/benefits/index.asp

► Box 2- WorkSMARTBox 2- WorkSMART

► WWorkSMART, from the TUC, is here to help today's orkSMART, from the TUC, is here to help today's working people get the best out of the world of working people get the best out of the world of work.work.

► your rights at work:your rights at work: employment law explained employment law explained► your health at work:your health at work: keeping well in the keeping well in the

workplaceworkplace► your money:your money: simple advice on your pay, taxes, simple advice on your pay, taxes,

and pension optionsand pension options► union finder:union finder: help in choosing a union help in choosing a union► email newsletter:email newsletter: key and quirky stories from key and quirky stories from

the world of workthe world of work

Source: www.worksmart.org.ukSource: www.worksmart.org.uk

Source: http://union.org.nz

Education and trainingEducation and training ►The Internet gives unions a low cost tool The Internet gives unions a low cost tool

for informing workers in any locality for informing workers in any locality about workplace conditions and rights about workplace conditions and rights and for advising them how to deal with and for advising them how to deal with workplace problems. workplace problems. It generates new It generates new opportunities with regard to education opportunities with regard to education and training. Today, many unions provide and training. Today, many unions provide training courses via the internet for its training courses via the internet for its members and union representatives. members and union representatives.

Online learning Online courses include:For union reps

Countering the Far RightDisability Champions@WorkFinding a work Life balance

Health and SafetyIntroduction to Occupational PensionsOrganise! A Voice In Every Workplace

Union Learning RepresentativesUnion Representatives Stage 1

Tackling RacismTUC Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

For union professionalUK Unions and the European Union

Source: www.unionlearn.org.uk

Collective bargaining Collective bargaining processprocess

► It is important to improve information It is important to improve information flows, and recognise the importance of flows, and recognise the importance of information as a weapon in collective information as a weapon in collective bargaining. The web can be a crucial bargaining. The web can be a crucial source for bargaining and company data. source for bargaining and company data. The internet can be used by union The internet can be used by union researchers to collate relevant researchers to collate relevant information for the professional trade information for the professional trade union negotiators.union negotiators.

►Union members can be easily informed Union members can be easily informed in every stage of bargaining process in every stage of bargaining process and electronic balloting of members on and electronic balloting of members on agreements and proposals. The agreements and proposals. The internet provides a potentially very internet provides a potentially very powerful way of reaching members powerful way of reaching members during the collective bargaining during the collective bargaining process, to inform them of process, to inform them of developments and to elicit their views developments and to elicit their views and also potentially empowers their and also potentially empowers their members to take a much more direct members to take a much more direct role during negotiations.role during negotiations.

International labor solidarityInternational labor solidarity

►Eric Lee: “the Internet will create a more Eric Lee: “the Internet will create a more global trade union movement by providing global trade union movement by providing information on labour issues around the information on labour issues around the world.”world.”

► The internet provides many opportunities The internet provides many opportunities for enhanced forms of solidarity and for enhanced forms of solidarity and communication at every level from the communication at every level from the local to the global. local to the global.

►Today unions are increasingly using the Today unions are increasingly using the web as a campaigning tool. They are web as a campaigning tool. They are organizing “cyber picketing” by flooding a organizing “cyber picketing” by flooding a company’s e-mail system with protest company’s e-mail system with protest messages.messages.

► Act NOW!Act NOW!► If your union needs our help creating an online If your union needs our help creating an online campaign, please fill in this campaign, please fill in this formform and we'll get back and we'll get back

to you. Thanks.to you. Thanks.► RussiaRussia: No : No toto impunityimpunity forfor attackersattackers of of dockworkersdockworkers' '

leaderleader► Iran: Iran: AttemptedAttempted assassinationassassination of of labourlabour activistactivist

► TellTell TommyTommy HilfigerHilfiger, , GuessGuess andand DickiesDickies: Stop : Stop thethe firingsfirings of of MexicanMexican jeanjean workersworkers; ; supportsupport theirtheir rightright toto a a unionunion

of of theirtheir choicechoice► UK: UK: SupportSupport thethe FremantleFremantle CareCare WorkersWorkers

► AustraliaAustralia: : SupportSupport CochlearCochlear workersworkers► Turkey : Intimidation and Mass Firings at Yörsan Dairy Turkey : Intimidation and Mass Firings at Yörsan Dairy

CompanyCompany

Source: http://labourstart.orgSource: http://labourstart.org

Transparency and union democracyTransparency and union democracy►The Internet democratizes unions, The Internet democratizes unions,

decentralizes them, makes them more decentralizes them, makes them more transparent and open, weakens transparent and open, weakens entrenched bureaucracies and provides entrenched bureaucracies and provides new tools for rank and file activists. new tools for rank and file activists.

► It is an inexpensive way for individuals to It is an inexpensive way for individuals to participate in decisions. Discussion participate in decisions. Discussion forums, chatrooms and list servers create forums, chatrooms and list servers create virtual communities that can virtual communities that can spontaneously develop new thinking on spontaneously develop new thinking on issues as well as share information issues as well as share information outside official settings. outside official settings.

►The use of the internet by trade unions The use of the internet by trade unions increases the transparency of the increases the transparency of the behaviour of union officials to the union behaviour of union officials to the union membership and enables an independent membership and enables an independent assessment of performance of officials. assessment of performance of officials.

►Hogan argued that “on-line unionism Hogan argued that “on-line unionism represents a challenge to the iron law of represents a challenge to the iron law of oligarchy”.oligarchy”.

The transformation of Unions in the Internet The transformation of Unions in the Internet

EraEra Pre-internet activities of unions Additional activities after internet

Primary business Collective bargaining Individual representation and advice

Delivery services WorkplacesServices delivered by reps/leadersOutcomes depend on collective bargaining with employer

WebDigital servicesServices provided directly to workers

Method of dispute Strikes Web communicationCyber-picketing

Pre-internet membership Post-internet membership

Locale Workplace Differentiated membership: members, subscribers, visitors to websitevirtual presence at workplaces

Internal democracy Elected leaders and bureaucracy Decentralized; internet plebiscitesActivists operate independently

Source:Diamond-Freeman (2002).

ConclusionConclusion

►The Trade Union Movement is The Trade Union Movement is undergoing a process of change, undergoing a process of change, following a 30-year long trend of following a 30-year long trend of decline in membership, decline in membership, recognition and public support. recognition and public support. The consideration of the internet The consideration of the internet is vital to this process. is vital to this process. Neverthless, it does not have to Neverthless, it does not have to be be exaggerated the role of the exaggerated the role of the internet on the future of trade internet on the future of trade union movement. union movement.

►In this paper, we have not argued In this paper, we have not argued that the internet represents the that the internet represents the panacea to cure all union ills. panacea to cure all union ills. It It cannot be a substitute for cannot be a substitute for traditional face-to-face methods traditional face-to-face methods of organising, meeting and of organising, meeting and motivating union members. So it motivating union members. So it has to be understood as a new has to be understood as a new tool, and no more than that, in tool, and no more than that, in labour's toolbox. labour's toolbox.

►WWe have argued that innovative e have argued that innovative internet activities can create a internet activities can create a new excitement and ferment in new excitement and ferment in the trade union movementthe trade union movement..

►AAnd creative usage of the nd creative usage of the internet can develop proactive internet can develop proactive strategies to counter the forces strategies to counter the forces of membership decline, through of membership decline, through the creation of new channels of the creation of new channels of communication and new communication and new opportunities to participate.opportunities to participate.

Many thanks for Many thanks for your attentionyour attention