What is New Unionism?
New unionism is about organizing, internationalism and workplace democracy. Bringing these together requires creativity. Taken together, this is the practice of New Unionism. The approach can trace its roots back more than 100 years. First came the historical ‘New Unionism’ movement which began in the mid-1880s. Craft-based structures gave way to industrial unions, and a new generation of leaders argued that unions should become more democratic, visionary and open. In the wave of strikes and campaigns that followed the trade union movement as we know it today was born (see below). This first period came to an end with World War One. Following the war, the movement’s openness and creativity was submerged in a battle of ideologies which lasted for most of the remaining century. The end of World War Two saw a new social consensus emerge. Many countries came to see unions as social partners in the reconstruction process. However, a second wave of new unionism began as this consensus starte
