Proud Past, Bright Future — Mike Payne

In my line of work, quite often I get asked “How relevant are Trade Unions in the 21st Century”.

The answer is; Very relevant and I’ll usually start my answer outlining my argument with the benefits that a modern Union like GMB provides in the workplace. The usual things like representation, support, oh and of course the added benefits- Legal Cover, cheap car insurance etc.

But you can only fully answer this question by looking backwards and comparing modern working and living standards to those that were commonplace in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

In the late 19th century workers had very few- if any- rights at work, but today the issue is far more about knowing what your rights are and belonging to a Trade Union that can help you exercise those rights.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to argue that we have enough rights or need greater protections in some areas, far from it. But I am suggesting that one of the biggest issues today is that many people are unaware of their entitlements, leaving unscrupulous employers to take advantage of them because they fail to join a Union that can advise and protect them in the workplace.

In the late 19th Century workers and their families were completely at the mercy of the employer. To lose your job, would mean you would lose your home, your family, your health and face the final indignity of having to go cap in hand to the workhouse to ask for charity. If you were unfortunate enough to have an accident at work or became ill because of poor nutrition or poverty, again your sole support was to take the “walk of shame” and to knock on the workhouse door.

So looking back at the terrible things that workers had to endure, I ask myself; what changed? What happened to take us from that bleak existence to where we are now?

The answer is that General Trade Unions like the Gas Workers Union (now GMB) the Dock Workers Union (now Unite) happened. That ordinary working men and women said “enough is enough”.

Brothers like the GMB’s first General Secretary Will Thorne began recruiting workers into the Union and fighting for better conditions, like the 8 hour day, a “Weekend”, better pay and equal treatment.

Sisters like Eleanor Marx, GMB’s first International Officer and member of the Central Executive, argued for a political voice and a vision of workers across the world uniting to fight against shared injustice.

These pioneers who formed the Trade Unions, created a Labour Party to be the workers Political Voice in Parliament. From this they changed the world.

The welfare state, the Open University and the NHS are their most famous achievements, but these are closely followed by the right to challenge an employer, contracts of employment that clearly state your entitlements, Health and Safety Legislation, Equality Legislation, and enshrining the rights for free and independent Trade Unions to protect workers. They may not get the same mythology, but these reforms have fundamentally changed and democratised Britain for the better.

Although we have had hard fought victories the fight goes on. As Nye Bevan once said “The NHS will only survive whilst there are people who are prepared to protect it”, likewise Trade Unions need a new generation of Trade Unionists to take up the challenges of our times.

One of these current challenges is the expansion of precarious work and ensuring that self-employed and flexible workers are not abused.

Challenges like the GMB Legal Battle against UBER — who refuse to call their drivers workers then refuse them Holiday Pay, Sickness and basic employment rights. Also like the Unison challenge against the UK Government, who introduced Tribunal Charges to prevent workers from having access to justice is another great example.

As we move towards the second Quarter of the 21st Century we also need to face up to the challenges that new technology brings.

Unlike Will Thorne who had to travel the width and breadth of the UK to spread the word, we have the opportunity to engage and respond to members through New Media, identifying concerns and offering support in a way simply not possible 10 years ago. The Challenge for all Unions is to expand our communications to fill this gap that new media has opened.

We also need to find ways of dealing with increasing mechanisation and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace. Whilst these issues provide threats to member’s jobs we can’t just respond negatively to these changes, we have to embrace it as an opportunity for our members to upskill and or to move into highly skilled, well paid alternative employment.

And even when we’ve solved these, we have to be able to regroup and take on the next lot of challenges. However our values will remain firm.

The Trade Union movement will continue to protect members that need protection. We will continue to Modernise and change to become more open and transparent. We must continue to deliver for our members and encourage those who are not to embrace collectivism. We must to work together to fight injustice wherever it is found.

We must continue to be the dreamers and drivers of the Social, economic and Political changes that we all want to see for our Children, Grand Children and all future generations.

Mike Payne is a regional political officer for GMB Union. You can find out more about GMB Wales & South west by visiting their website or following them on Twitter or Facebook.