An alternative union movement

Developments in unionism in Europe may come to deeply affect British Columbia, ripe for change after two decades of deceit and betrayal

by Larry Gambone

A new labour movement is developing in Europe which may have an important impact in Canada. It is called the "alternative union movement" and it has developed largely in response to the failure of orthodox trade unionism to counter the ravages of globalization.

What characterizes this movement is the use of direct democracy, local autonomy for unions, and a strong stance on the environment, peace and minority rights. While traditional unions encourage consumerism and an increase to governmental power, all the while never really challenging capitalism, the new movement is anti-consumerist and promotes a vision of a cooperative, self-managed economy.

I recently visited the Barcelona headquarters of the largest of the alternative unions, the Spanish CGT (Confederacion General de Trabajo). This is no small ultra-left sect but is rather a trade union that represents about one million people. It is, in fact, the third largest union federation in Spain, after the Socialist and Communist unions.

The CGT has a highly decentralized structure, a minimum of paid staff, and it practices direct democracy. Each union local is autonomous and, where coordination or larger numbers need to be involved, the groups federate.

They do not see militant trade unionism as the sole answer to the mountain of problems facing the world. Rather, they see the need for a broad movement encompassing community, women's, immigrant, and environmental groups along with co-ops, unions and anti-authoritarians of all kinds. The CGT is part of the "anti-globalist movement" and is one of the most important forces attempting to develop a Europe-wide alternative unionism.

While the Spanish alternative union is the largest and most influential of these movements, there are similar groups in other parts of Europe. In Italy, there are the COBAs, or base committees, comprising rank-and-file workers. In France, there is the SUD unions and the rapidly-growing anarcho-syndicalist CNT-F. Sweden has the SAC unions who promote similar ideas. Small alternative or syndicalist groups have emerged in the ex-Eastern Bloc nations as well, and these may acquire a significant membership in the future.

Why should "alternative unionism" be of interest to people in BC? Remember the "Almost General Strike" this past April? Think back further, to that other "Almost General Strike" in 1983.

In both situations, many people felt betrayed by a union leadership that cut a late deal with the BC government. This significant lack of rank-and-file influence on events of such importance could only occur in a hierarchical, top-down system of control. The decentralized, bottom-up approach of the alternative unions would allow the members to make their own choices in these matters.

In the 1983 strike, there was also a split between the unions and the community groups that hand banded together in the Solidarity Movement. However, while the union leadership was happy to have the support of the community groups initially, it abandoned them when they decided to end the strike. Many community activists were left embittered and feeling that they had been used. This would be unlikely with the alternative unions, as they see themselves as part of a larger movement and not as the one movement.

There is also the question of vision. The orthodox unions don't really have a compelling or attractive vision of what society ought to look like. Rather, it's more like the corporate system's vision, albeit with better wages and working conditions. And who wants more government bureaucracy as a solution to social problems?

The alternative union movement's vision of a self-managed, decentralized and co-operative society is much more in keeping with the Green, feminist, and anti-consumerist ethos found in British Columbia than could ever be the trade unions' old guard's bureaucratic reformism.

For further information: http://www.ufcw.net

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