Trade unions in the UK and US have become more powerful despite political interference and falling memberships
Even more surprisingly perhaps, those same workers – in a dispute with three of America’s biggest car manufacturers – were later praised by Donald Trump.
- Even more surprisingly perhaps, those same workers – in a dispute with three of America’s biggest car manufacturers – were later praised by Donald Trump.
- Meanwhile in the UK, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to repeal anti-strike laws, and “unequivocally” support the right to strike.
- There is a shifting balance of power towards the unions, with employers increasingly agreeing settlements in the strikers’ favour.
Low numbers and high barriers
- This culminated in 2016 legislation which established high legal barriers for strike action, such as requiring a 50% turnout, or placing tight restrictions on where and how pickets can be conducted.
- In the US, striking rights are weaker still, with the balance of power overwhelmingly favouring employers.
- For younger workers, with no memory or experience of what unions have achieved in the past, the numbers are even lower.
- Only 4.4% of US workers aged 16 to 24 are members of a union, and in the UK it’s just 3.7%.
Striking a blow
- The US saw a peak of 52.8 million lost working days in 1970, and a low of 200,000 in 2014.
- In the UK, 29.5 million working days lost in 1979 went down to as little as 170,000 in 2015.
- This snowball effect will only embolden unions further, and aggrieved workers will feel more confident about standing up to their employers.
- Both parties need to accept that trade unionism is experiencing a revival few thought possible – and one that shows no signs of stopping.
Steven Daniels is a member of the University and College Union (UCU).