The idea was well explained at the recent TUC conference. It is a simple concept yet we have not been able to understand or accept that a single sector union situation will help the trade union movement. Either that or there should be more mergers with sister unions where it is obvious that we could be ending up competing with each other and this at a time when we should all be more united.
I was astonished, for example, with the situation in my old branch, Lambeth, where the 'friendly' competition between Unison and the GMB was rife at times. There were members who would switch from one union to the next mainly because of the cost associated with being a member of Unison and although Unison had 2300 members as opposed to the 700 of the GMB the constant 'rivalry' was not at all helpful and was exploited by management.
We were lucky in that the GMB Secretary, Bill Modlock, was a hard working descent and competent trade unionist who worked with myself and Jon as Unison Secretaries, but I can see how this division could be a destruction in other branches where the arguments are more pronounced. It is time that we discussed more mergers and single sector union agreements otherwise the difference between the Peoples Judea Front and the Front of the Peoples of Judea will dilute our efforts!
Hear, hear!
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