In any event, some of the most interesting work being done by trade unionists on the idea is taking place in countries like Brazil, South Africa and South Korea. The Internet is being used today by trade unionists to do many things that were previously done only by older forms of communication. One answer can be found in Sweden, where trade unionists employed by one high-tech company routinely hold their union meetings online using videoconferencing. Another may be found in Britain, where three unions with a combined membership of two million have just offered free Internet access to their members. In the USA and Canada, a number of unions routinely broadcast audio and video content over the net, creating a virtual online labour TV and radio network.
Many problems stand in the way of the net becoming an even more powerful tool for labour.
It is simply one more tool to be added to labour's toolkit, one more means for members of unions to stay in touch with each other and with their organisations. If I may be allowed a slightly visionary moment, I think it also a bit more than that. Back to LabourStart.