The role of a workers' rep

The excellent interview with Glynn Doherty (Socialist 776) showed a week of activity representing members, whether at employment tribunals, directly with the employer or running a "drop in centre" for members.

Things are different today for a trade union rep compared to my day back in the 1970s and 1980s. The balance of forces in the workplace was more on the workers' side then.

The numbers in trade unions have halved but also the ordinary worker's confidence is much less than it was.

Union membership

Nupe, a founder union that merged with others to become Unison later on, grew from 60,000 in 1970 to 600,000 by the end of the decade.

Nupe organised the lowest paid workers in the NHS, councils and the public sector in general.

The Thatcher government's main purpose in 1979 was to reduce the organised working class's power which she did through de-industrialisation, anti-union laws and right-wing Labour and union leaders who abdicated responsibility for what was happening,

As industry became far smaller, the number of big workplaces dramatically declined. In the past the big manufacturing workplaces set the pace which other workers followed.

Certainly low-paid unorganised sections of the working class got the confidence to organise and take strike action from what was happening in industry.

The role of a workplace rep then was different. Crucially, shop stewards in general in the bigger, well organised workplaces, such as the car industry, engineering, mines, the docks, etc, were elected and accountable to the shop floor, and subject to recall at any time.

Their workmates looked to them to oppose the bosses' attacks. The reps knew they could call on their members to take action to defend their interests if needed.

The workplace was the centre of activity. Strong shop stewards committees meant there could be collective action if the bosses attacked workers, including individual workers.

The involvement of full-time officials was seen as a last resort. It was by strike action, often "unofficial," that most gains were made.

The modern rep deals mainly with individual cases. Forward looking representatives, like Glynn, see the rep's real role as preparing their members for collective action.

Workers themselves will gain the confidence to do so, as the bosses are sitting on dynamite and will be made to pay the cost.

Bill Mullins

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.