Project: Unionising the Future – Building Relationships between Trade Unions and Students’ Unions

Aims of the Project

1. To strengthen relations between local trade unions and students’ unions as campaigning bodies for fair and healthy working conditions for all
2. To understand the potential alternative routes to protecting workers in the light of the continuing erosion of union rights
3. To increase the number of students joining trade unions and continuing to be unionised after their time as students to ensure they are protected from injustices
4. To have a shared vision for how these organisations can work together in the future which constructs a fairer future to workers and does not just respond to poor governmental policy making

Outcomes

1. A collection of case studies looking at how trade unions, students’ unions and organisations who defend workers’ rights work together currently, and a survey across the Students’ Union sector looking at current interactions.
2. A resource for unions informing them of a sample of trade unions that offer student membership rates in industries where students are most likely to work (catering, bars, call centres and shops)
3. Three Participatory Action Research sessions in the South East/London to engage Students’ Unions and Trade Unions in discussions about the findings from the above and potential future work
4. Information disseminated from the project across the Students’ Union and Trade Unions Structure

Stage 1 Mapping Exercise – Desk based research, interviews and literature review (November 2015 – June 2016)

Literature Review: We are aware that there is little information available on this at present but are keen to do a more brief literature review of what there is.  This also involves carrying out some background reading on the current state of the Students’ Union and Trade Union sectors and student employment that will help contextualise the work.

Research with Trade Unions: We will identify a sample of trade unions that offer student membership rates in industries where students are most likely to work (catering, bars, call centres and shops) and bring these together as a resource for the sector.

Research with Students’ Unions:  We will be looking to speak with Students’ Unions about how they currently interact with Trade Unions.  We will conduct an online survey using existing networks aiming for a response rate of 20 unions.  We will be directing speaking with staff and officers from 4 – 6 unions to identify for interesting case studies of how students’ unions and trade unions can work well together and identifying the challenges that may come up (for example one Students’ Union we have already spoken to supported a staff strike for the living wage, but the staff on the strike refused to support student staff also being entitled to this same privilege; another union have identified specific issues around medical students and unions).

Other organisations: We will be mapping new organisations and self-organised groups in relation to employability that, some unions have already identified organisations that they work with on workers rights.  These include self-managed organisations who are fighting for workers’ rights.  Some of these are small local organisations such as Brighton Hospitality Workers who take on individual cases campaigning locally when workers are poorly treated, fail to be paid by their employees or do not receive holiday pay, but also national organisations such as Soldfed who encourage these self-organised groups to form to protect workers’ rights, and offer training and support.

Stage 2 – Participatory Action Research (June 2016)

This would be the beginning of the networking and would bring trade and students’ unions together to take part in creative discussions and activities.  It will be an opportunity to bring people together to discuss findings so far, and it will be a forward looking session to come up with recommendations for how these organisation can work more closely in campaigning and support.  There will be six sessions held in different unions up and down the UK.  The sessions will not merely be focus groups but interactive workshops in groups that will encourage creativity and the development of a shared vision between the different unions.

Stage 3 – Write Up (July 2016)

We would produce a report, recommendations, guides for unions and case studies about working together and a vision statement (from the PAR sessions) about how trade and student unions can work together locally.

Stage 4 – Research Dissemination and Networking (August – September 2016)

We will ensure that all unions receive an electronic copy of our report and resources.  We will also use existing NUS and TUC networks to get out press information on them via existing online networks, these will include JISCmail lists, sector newsletters, twitter and Facebook.  We will also create a resource page on the Magnetic Ideals website and work with partner unions as identified below to get them to link to these resources on their websites and social media.  We will work closely with NUS to disseminate.

If you would like to be involved in the Steering Group for this project please contact Project Lead Heather McKnight heather@magneticideals.org