The rebuilding is already going on from inside and outside the workplace. Even the TUC has realised the need to bring in new young workers and fight for recognition in non-union firms. Last year deals were struck in 75 new workplaces. At the start of this year another 136 campaigns were in progress. But all the Organising Academies and campaigns in the world won't renew the trade union movement if all they do is sign up new recruits.
Workers join trade unions in order to get results.
In the end trade unions must be able to successfully defend their members. And this is where, even at such a basic level, there is no avoiding the question of politics. Monks and the trade union leaders would like to use the concessions in trade union law to gain recognition for safe, tame unions where they preserve their role in negotiating for members but things rarely get out of hand. A number of recent examples show what this means in practice. When the union leadership works hand in glove with the bosses, union activists are blocked at every turn.