Amid a technological boom, positive results in negotiations with the government and an upsurge in membership, UK trade unions have enjoyed an unprecedented revival during this health crisis, according to a new report entitled “Covid-19 and the work of trade unions: new challenges and new responses”. Unveiled on 14 January by Union 21, a forum for trade unions, the study however warns that the coming months could prove more difficult for these organisations, which will have to prepare themselves for mass unemployment, which is synonymous with disengagement.
“In 2021 unions are on Zoom, holding mass meetings with members, lobbying the government to provide support for workers and businesses, and negotiating remotely with employers,” highlights Tom Hunt, deputy director of the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) and author of the new study, which details the unexpected revival of UK trade unions during the Covid-19 pandemic. He believes that unions have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt amid the health emergency, while their crucial role in negotiations to cushion the devastating economic impact of the crisis has also demonstrated their significance.
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