Why you should be a trade unionist
New book by Unite GS Len McCluskey presents the case for joining a trade union
Reading time: 3 min
Drawing on anecdotes from his own long involvement in the labour movement, McCluskey looks at the history of the trade unions, what they do and how they give a voice to working people, as democratic organisations.
He considers the changing world of work, the challenges and opportunities of automation and why being trade unionists can enable us to help shape the future.
McCluskey sets out why being a trade unionist is a political role that compliments an industrial one and why the historic links between the labour movement and the Labour Party matter.
Ultimately, McCluskey explains how being a trade unionist means putting equality at work and in society front and centre, fighting for an end to discrimination, and to inequality in wages and power.
Commenting on Why You Should Be A Trade Unionist, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “A brilliant, accessible and thought-provoking book – and a reminder that unions will always be the best way for working-class people to win justice.
“Featuring a wealth of historical material, this lively and personal account shows how organised labour can thrive in the future. A must-read for trade unionists, activists and anybody who wants to build a more equal society.”
Kevin Maguire, the Daily Mirror’s associate editor, said, “Len McCluskey is Britain’s best known, and arguably most powerful, trade union leader for good reason. He engagingly mixes personal experiences with unflinching conviction to present a compelling argument for the value of organised labour – whichever political party is in Government.”
You can pre-order a copy of Why You Should be a Trade Unionist on the Verso website here.
