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Organising for what?: Where is the debate on the politics of organising?

Author

Listed:
  • Melanie Simms

    (University of Warwick)

  • Jane Holgate

    (London Metropolitan University)

Abstract

Many unions that have adopted 'new' organising approaches have tended to see organising as a 'toolbox' of practices rather than as having an underpinning political philosophy or objective. Adopting such an approach has left out the fundamental question of what are we1 organising for'? Academics studying these developments have tended to evaluate organising outcomes against whatever objectives unions have set themselves and have not dealt with the question of what organising is and what it is for. It is important to examine the politics and processes underpinning organising activity and to keep in mind these fundamental questions. We (re)examine the poiiticai dynamics of organising and argue that there is a need for a more robust notion of power and the centrality of worker self-organisation in organising objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Melanie Simms & Jane Holgate, 2010. "Organising for what?: Where is the debate on the politics of organising?," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(1), pages 157-168, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:24:y:2010:i:1:p:157-168
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tom Farnhill, 2018. "Union Renewal and Workplace Greening — Three Case Studies," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(4), pages 716-743, December.
    2. Philip James & Joanna Karmowska, 2016. "British union renewal: does salvation really lie beyond the workplace?," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 102-116, March.
    3. Richard Saundry & Mick McKeown, 2013. "Relational union organising in a healthcare setting: a qualitative study," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5-6), pages 533-547, November.
    4. Ana Lopes & Timothy Hall, 2015. "Organising migrant workers: the living wage campaign at the University of East London," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 208-221, May.

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