Category Archives: Theory
Wei Ji: uprising in China and crisis as laboratory
The financial crisis and the resulting job and budget cuts means there is an urgent need for consolidated action by unions. We are also seeing web 2.0 tools making coordination between union activists easier than ever before. This is a perfect storm of circumstance, and we are likely to see trade union activists make increased […]
Continue readingSurvey results
Thanks you to every one who took part in the survey. Here is an initial overview of the results. Analysis will follow later, and I will also make the raw data available, with personal information removed. An overview of survey responses A hundred and seventy five trade union activists completed the survey on their use […]
Continue readingCyberspace as space: the ideology of the Internet
While new technologies offer activists new tools to use for union activity, it is important to conceptualise cyperspace as space, and to understand activity taking place there as being in a new realm with its own possibilities, ethics and practice. Peter Waterman feels that most trade union use of new technology “…represents a belated response […]
Continue readingBottom up vs Top down renewal
In looking at the potential of ICTs for union renewal and revitalisation, we need to look at unions as both collections of people, and as organisations. Which part of the union are we seeking to revitalise? The interests of these two groups are not necessarily the same – in fact, they can be diametrically opposed […]
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