Meeting the New Challenges
Labour educators Edward Cohen-Rosenthal and Arthur Shostak make some useful comments
about how to maintain a quality national centre. They say the key is to merge traditional union
activity with the challenges of modernisation, and make the union the centre of gravity of every
working person. In brief:
- Develop a clear, motivating, strategic vision and values. This requires unions to link the
union's mission clearly to members and the public. Thus, a transport union must be concerned
with the provision of cheap, accessible transport that runs on schedule. A food union must
have in mind how to ensure quality, nutritious, affordable food in sufficient supply, and so on.
This will have implications for the way strikes are used, and other "disruptive" tactics, as
weapons in the hands of workers;
- Scan the environment and be proactive about change. This requires unions to plan ahead, set
priorities, and make decisions based on complete and accurate information;
- Be participative, democratic, and empowering. All activities need to be geared towards
mobilising and increasing membership, and finding solutions to their problems;
- Create a learning organisation grounded in dialogue, awareness, and data. Educate members in
the skills necessary for effective participation, and the critical issues facing unions;
- Communicate with all levels clearly and frequently. Maintain a dialogue between members and
leadership;
- Use resources in an effective and leveraged manner. Eliminate waste to increase resources for
key union activities. This may mean, for example, that union services such as arbitrations, and
shopstewards' training and educational activities be handled by centralised federation agencies,
freeing resources for union campaigns, recruitment, and organising;
- Look to adequacy of systematic response. Members should be viewed not only as workers, but
also as family members and citizens.
Hassan Lorgat, a former official of Numsa and Samwu and now Southern African coordinator
of the Public Services International.
