On declining trade union membership

The Teamsters Union is committed to organising new members in our core industries, fighting alongside workers so they gain a voice in the workplace and their communities. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters represent more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.

In the global economy, the Teamsters recognise that our struggle does not end at our borders. We are fighting in solidarity with workers worldwide to ensure that multinational corporations respect workers’ right to organise for dignity and respect.

While the share of union workers in the US remained stable during the past year, in the previous 25 years, the percentage of workers with union representation dwindled from a third of the workforce to 13 per cent. The share of workers enjoying middle-class wages, health insurance and a pension has been shrinking at an alarming rate.

To reverse these dangerous trends, the Teamsters Union has put the bulk of its financial resources into organising campaigns to support America’s workers in their efforts to:
- Gain the Right to Negotiate Pay, Health Benefits and a Pension,
- Gain Respect at Work, and
- Gain a Voice on the Job by forming a union.

Jim Hoffa, General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), US


The VNC, Dutch Cabin Crew Union, represents the cabin crew of KLM, Martinair, Transavia and KLM cityhopper. About one and a half years ago we had to approve some far-reaching changes for the KLM-section after two years of bargaining.

These plans had both positive and negative sides for our members. Changing things is always painful for some people and that’s why we had membership decline. A few of our former members even raised a new union.

What we do now is, more than ever, show our members what we are doing and what we did in the past. This year the VNC has been representing cabin crew for 60 years, and the result of that is a very good collective agreement.

We have to be strong, not be afraid of a confrontation with the company, and show the members our quality. A good example of that is a confrontation we just had with Martinair. The VNC was really powerful and almost every Martinair cabin crew member is a member of our union now.

Diederik Swart, Dutch Cabin Crew Union (VNC), Netherlands


The decline in membership is due to variety of factors such as the advent of technology, automation, the globalisation of trade and so on, which have remarkably changed the work ethos, values and priorities of employers and employees. These are the changes we need to address in order to attract members. A few strategies are noteworthy:

- Networks are necessary to reach more mobile workers, and this may mean the need for more decentralisation.

- Unions should not confine their attention only to wage bargaining. Non-bargaining activities should be stepped up.

- Unions should liaise with educational/ training programmes to ensure job development and so reduce the risk of workers becoming surplus/redundant. Non-formal education will greatly help unions to increase membership as job needs are addressed.

- Unions that can take care of the health needs of members will continue to attract membership.

- Similarly unions should organise sports and recreational events as part of their role in looking after the general and emotional well being of members.

- Trade unions should liaise with private or voluntary bodies to help in providing affordable housing and transport to work for members.

- Unions should also try to offer a role in providing counselling, legal aid etc – to help members address typical social and domestic problems.

- Young people and women can be mobilised through the formulation of a youth wing and women’s wing, assisted by an advisory board.

- Regular conferences for the different sectors of workers will help to generate support for membership.

- Coordination between the different unions and their divisions and districts etc through the work of coordinating committees should be fostered.

- Trade unions must continue the process of democratisation and be transparent in their work. They need to involve public representatives, the media and intellectuals in their day-to-day programmes. They should be involved in rising to broader challenges, such as those presented by HIV/AIDS, violence against women, conflict and natural calamities.

V Bhagyavathi Harinath, Assistant General Secretary, South Central Railway Mazdoor Union, Secunderabad, India

What does organising globally mean to you? This month’s question for readers: The theme for the ITF Congress (to be held in Durban, South Africa in August 2006) will be: Organising globally, fighting for our rights. What kind of outcomes would be welcomed by your union? Please send your brief comments to parris_kay@itf.org.uk by 30 April 2006. Or post your thoughts on the ITF Bulletin Board