Raising Lazurus
The future of organised labour
David Coats 

Fabian ideas 618
ISBN 0716306182
£6.95

Coats argues that the unions have a vital role to play in the labour market, but must reform to reverse their declining fortunes. While support remains high for collective action, unions must alter their rhetoric and widen their appeal to respond to the realities of the new economy.

Why has union membership halved in a generation? Why do union leaders and a Labour government seem to talk different languages about the workplace? Do the unions even matter anymore?

Most people believe the trade unions, like Lazarus, need a miracle to come back to life. David Coats disagrees. He shows that the unions remain the masters of their own fate but must respond to the challenges of the new 'hourglass economy'—with more jobs at the top and bottom end of the labour market and a hollowing out in the middle.

There are reasons for optimism about union renewal. Workers retain a strong support for the idea of collective action and solidarity—but are put off if unions don't seem to offer to help them to 'get on' rather than 'get even'. Several small and larger unions have found strategies for growth and renewal.

Reversing union decline matters in politics too. The link between the Labour Party and the trade unions can be strengthened only through union renewal —ensuring that strong, growing unions are an important force for progressive social change.

"Unions are in decline throughout the industrialised world. In Britain, as a powerful report published yesterday by the Fabian Society reminds us, membership at 6.4m is half what it was 25 years ago … What can be done? The author urges the unions to subject themselves to the cathartic reform process that the Labour party has successfully gone through. It is difficult to argue against his case that the future lies more in unions emphasising lifelong learning and career development rather than confrontational tactics "
— Editorial, The Guardian

"David Coats gives a refreshingly optimistic analysis of where we are and the high road that is available to the trade union movement, if only we are bold enough to take up the challenge. The pamphlet stands out because it doesn't just analyse the problems faced by the British trade unions but also provides some exciting ideas for the way forward. Not everyone will agree with David's prescriptions - but that's not really the point. What's most important is that we have a healthy debate about managed growth rather than managing decline."
— Adrian Askew, General Secretary, Connect

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