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Social Democratic Trade Unionism By Robert Taylor Trade unions have been virtually written out of New Labour's script for the country's modernisation. No leading member of the British Cabinet has said anything of substance on the purposes of trade unionism in recent years, and their intellectual gurus seem more interested in the culture of consumerism and the "risk-taking" entrepreneurs of an unregulated capitalism. This not only ignores the daily reality of the world of work for millions in high stress, long-hour and low paid jobs, argues Robert Taylor. It also fails to meet the challenge of turning Britain into a high value, high quality, high productivity economy. To break the silence, he proposes a bold new agenda for the labour movement and the Labour government - a "social democratic trade unionism" that can integrate the cause of justice in the workplace with the development of a dynamic and successful economy. "I very much welcome the publication of this pamphlet, I think it
is at the right time and in many cases it is the right analysis. It reflects
the fact that there is a new confidence, and that is why we are beginning
to tackle, and look at in a more analytical and systematic way, what the
relationship between the unions and Labour is, and what we want it to
become." "The new left majority of the TUC is a product of organised workers'
disillusionment with the supposed benefits of a deregulated labour market.
Our task is to outline an agenda for change that is both coherent and
progressive. I welcome Robert Taylor's contribution to this debate. I
may not agree with all his proposals, but I do believe that the new generation
of union leaders must address the issues he raises." "The government should back this progressive agenda ... A growing
trade union movement that looks forward rather than back would be a gain
for the economy, country and progressive politics alike." Robert Taylor is Research Associate at the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, and Media Fellow on the ESRC's Future of Work programme. He was formerly employment editor at the Financial Times and is the author of The TUC: From the General Strike to New Unionism (2000). "Beyond the picket line" - The Guardian, 10 September 2003
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