New Unionism

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Comment by Orsan Senalp on February 14, 2011 at 22:10

I posted below mssg on Social Network Unionism group here on Unionbook, since it is relevant to New Unionism group members posting it also here, greetings to all!

-I was reading Peter Hall Jones' November 2009 article "Precariat meet'n'greet" and just got what he meant previously when he suggested 'creating occupation base social networks', reffering to Guy Standing's
argument (in his book Work after Globalisation).

This idea, especially in tandem with the 'organising' campaign can work very well I think.

I have one thing to add on, and can contribute to the idea, is that, I don't know members of the group heard about TIE Network before but thier production maapping methodology [for organising and action], MAPPEO. which is based on the idea that workers can recapture the information on either  entire production process in one company or in whole transnational production line by mapping and analysing it collectively, can be compementary to such social network unionism practice. (Check it out here on TIE website: http://www.tie-netherlands.nl/node/40)
I think it is also plausable if such local/shopfloor or occupation based social networks, can be better, located in an ovearching social network platform, in order to allow intersections and exchanges between localities.

These can be thought oof as online networked worker councils. This platform would ensamble Unionbook but should be in a much secure space. For instance Diaspora can be that platform, it is a newly and wiki style produced SN site, it needs to be experimented.
greetings to all! welcome to new participants! "

Comment by Peter HJ on February 6, 2011 at 21:36

I have just set up a planning group for members of the New Unionism Network at http://www.unionbook.org/group/newunionists. Current members of the Network are welcome to join. If you're not a Network member but would like to know more, see http://www.newunionism.net/join.htm.

Comment by Bandula Idamegama on January 10, 2011 at 8:53

Its great to be a member of the New Unionisn Group. The word is crying out for change and a sustainable new world order.

Comment by palikhe Rajesh on January 7, 2011 at 6:17

in my view the best thing of unionizm is to advocate themself as tradeunionist not a politician.if the tradeunionist convert into politician then the union became political party cadres organization not the workers organization.

Comment by Orsan Senalp on December 9, 2010 at 0:03

I have just posted two articles from Global Labour Strategies blog to Social Network Unionism discussion Group since they are highly relevant to the group's prospective goals and to the discussion; they contain valuable arguments, facts and opinions from the GLS team on social networks, web 2.0, and labour movement's renewal and related items.

The invaluable efforts and contributions of the GLS team to the union movment's revival, recently evolved into The Labor Network for Sustainability which comes very close to our discussion object or our new project: a Social Network Union.

Ours however may be is the first real attempt to create truly, transnational, and transunion union body, that aims at breaking away with the hierarchy and overcoming clinical obstacles before geniune democracy and solidairty.

Labour Network for Sustainability is a great initiative, but it only aims at 'sustainibility' so on the defensive side. Does not go further and addresses great injustice and inequality problems of our time. It is not envisaged as a platform that would grow based on direct membership and provide space to members for participation.

You Peter and, may be your team, have made great contribution to the New Unionism debate in general. The New Unionism Network is indeed beased on membership principle, and it works as a social network. However original website does not possess the capacity to act as an online social network. NUN rightfully uses Unionbook space in order to give voice to its members. Thanks to Unionbook idea and practice one more time. This move brought NUN project closer to our social network union idea.

However as you confir Peter, NUN is not thought of New Union model, that could operate as an alternative to what we have today. Or what is left after the crisis. NUN is limited to English speaking West but open to the rank and file. It is a very informative and creative platform, makes big impulses on unionist's minds and hearts in the West and probably beyond.

Hence it is very important to get the ideas and inputs from both New Unionism Network members and Peter you as well as The Labour Network for Sustainibility team and participants.

What I would like to suggest as an opening proposition, to continiue in Social Network Union group, that an online social network has an organisational potential that can only be utilized if you think it as a new model union, not only a industrial 'trade' union, and create new functions and mechanisms that can aim at realizing direct democracy and brining justice for whoever needs it, trought thier and many others common work, with the help of the net.

Not only online but where ever members goes, just like a good software and hardware virus aims at curing the system. Therefore it should not be seen only as a complementary tool but a tool with its own future, a tool that can create real pressure to change for the existing unions. This means utilizing the syberspace via online social network but fertilizing it to and with the people on real life.

So I want to encourage you Peter and all other New Unionism Network participants to contribute.

Comment by Peter HJ on December 8, 2010 at 23:20

Hi folks. Latest newsletter for the New Unionism Network just came out. Email subs@newsunionism.net if you want to subscribe. Also, you can find out more about membership here: http://www.newunionism.net/join.htm

Comment by palikhe Rajesh on December 4, 2010 at 15:53

Labour must be aware of unionizm.how it works integrating workers rgihts and interest collaborates withe the employers on the work.just the trade union leaders are known to trade unionizm but they never direct their known to others inspite do work for the benifit of employerand their own interest wchich lead the decreasing feeling of trade unionizm

Comment by DAta Miners Travailleurs Psychiq on December 4, 2010 at 15:10

Theres a real danger with any concentration on servcie industry and technology - especially the related concepts like precarity - of eurocentrism. euromayday is a prime example of how euroepan identity is pushed onto workers in the guise of unionism and workers power. we've been discussing some similar issues here:
http://www.unionbook.org/profiles/blogs/it-workers-global-union?

Comment by Peter HJ on December 3, 2010 at 20:51

Cheers for the great initiative, Orsan! I agree: finding a new form(s) to help organise 'the precariat' is one of the defining issues. The New Unionism Network follows a social network model, rather than the trad representational structure, although personally I see this as complementary to existing unionism, rather than being an experimental alternative. Here's an interesting paper by Saul Rubinstein and Charles Heckscher from 2002: http://goo.gl/SD8xm
The ILO have been struggling to get their head around the collapse of the standard employment model for years. I don't think trying to create a congregation around the word 'decent' will be very effective. More inspiring by far, IMO, is Guy Standing's argument - in Work after Globalization (2009) - for occupation-based networks (see http://goo.gl/950DO, http://goo.gl/V6ND9). Technology has made this all so very achieveable now! IMO it would be wonderful to see a good, progressive union set up a pilot scheme or two in this area!

Comment by Orsan Senalp on December 3, 2010 at 15:30

Hundereds of millions not if billions of workers in the world are out of reach for the established trade union mechanisms and structures, so they are not protected at all. Peter Waterman calls them 'worker's others' and some others call them as the new working class; the precariat composed of people who holds no propoerty and even secure job.

What kind of trade union structure will go beyond the ongoing problems and the crisis of unionism that was born out of these problems and will become the change maker of our time. Can Unionbook ensamble a model for such union organisation through the net?

There are many good examples of action taking place and results getting reached via the net. As it hppened in 2007 even financail support has been provided by the welathier segments of the Werstern working classes for the Ford worker's first ever strike organised in Russia -since the beginning of the 20th centurty.

I want to suggest that this is actually the discussion towards the New Unionism for the 21st century. i would like to invite therefore all New Unionism members to the discussion group formed in Unionbook 'Social Network Unionism'.

For already some times Social Network´s are gaining ground as the most important and dynamic forms of communication and collective action tools. Many activists involved today in one or another social network on the net or on te ground. Isn"t it the time the transform this tool to a new generation Trade Union.

Then we need to start discussing how can this happen and can it work, how? How would we build and gain legal ground for such a union, is it possible? How would we govern and in practice use such union against the offansive coming from the employer and the state?

I invite you all to start discussion on the Social Network for Unions here in New Unionism network and/or new Unionbook group 'Social Network Unionism' that has recently been formed with the aim of begining a comprehensive work and actually practicing such Union by utilkizing the opportunities created by Labourstart team and Eric Lee by creatting unique tool of Unionbook.

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