I'm primarily a trade unionist trying to get the hang of UnionBook in an attempt to support it before it sinks without a trace. I've requested, fairly arbitrarily I have to admit, some friends today because I'm trying to promote Unionbook to a group of women I was on a TUC course with last week. I hope you don't mind!

I work in the publications team of a teachers' trade union and I'm interested in journalism and public sector issues. Of course, I am much more than just my job. ;-)

Birmingham Uni is in Edgbaston, but very close to Harborne - both nicer parts of Brum.

Dear Peter,

Thanks for linking up. I read: Prague 1968: The last, Late Short Spring of the World Federation of Trade Unions at the GLI website some time ago and was enlightened and entertained at the same time! I was reminded of the piece when I saw Peter Hall-Jones’ also excellent recent article on New Unionism – and then I saw your WFTU history on Unionbook. If you are in the process of writing an autobiography it is certainly a book I would like to read some time.

I should mention that I actually set foot at the WFTU office as a youngster in the early 80es. I was in Prague on a study trip and was interested in international labour organizations, so I simply looked WFTU up in the telephone directory and turned up at the reception and asked if someone could talk to me. I was duly received by one Valeri I. Kravtsov who was very friendly and talked to me for about an hour (probably wondering what the hell I was doing there). I still have his business card – this was the first time I was given one of those and it made me feel quite important.

My recent inspiration to research the WFTU was an article by Quim Boix translated into Danish and published in a Danish CP-newspaper I picked up. The sycophantic tone and apologetic approach saddened and disturbed me. Also last summer I was attending the ILO International Labour Conference and came across WFTU affiliates there. I must say that all the insights your articles have provided have strengthened the gut feelings I have felt when coming across the WFTU and its people.

I just realized that becuase I left the following as a comment on my blog it might be hard for you to find it: 

Dear Mr. Waterman,

Thank you for the comment. In general, I agree. On revolution, emancipation, self-determination. In fact, while in the U.S. I was more prone to use the terms self-determination and emancipation (cultural context). Here (Korea), 'self-determination' is associated with a particular section of the movement and a particular understanding of reunification and north Korea, which is why I avoid it in this context. I used the word 'revolution' because that is what they are saying in Egypt, but I should have worked harder to suggest that I meant it as a process. I definitely didn't mean to reference historical revolutions in Russia, China, etc. 

I also agree with you that even the transition to a neoliberal democracy might open up spaces for popular expression. I had actually meant to get to this point (as well as others), but ran out of time. On international solidarity- yes, good point. I had not meant to suggest a North dominated form-- remember I was mostly speaking to a Korean audience. I think I had a line about international unions- I had sort of thought my editors here were going to edit it out, or that we would have at least had a conversation about it. Again, no time. I am hoping to get a chance to revise the piece before it is published in our journal. I will definitely keep your comments in mind when I do. 

Thanks!

(Just Wol-san is fine. :-)

Hi Peter. I was wondering if you are already in the Netherlands? If so, shall we meet up somewhere next week? Monday all day, thursday and friday afternoons, and also weekend I am free.

Hi Peer,

I was at the Massachusetts Job with Justice conference yesterday.  Right now I'm getting reading for the next session of the Harvard Trade Union Program (our 100th session - and our 69th year - we ran two sessions a year many decades ago).

On work, I seem to be mostly helping unions put together internal organizing program and helping them build capacity.  I call it "lighting fires vs putting them out."