New Unionism - what should we action from Tillett's organising, 130 years on?
My TLDR on the legacy of Ben Tillett & the New Unionism movement, and what we should learn from it.
The history of large movements & organisations are marked by bold transformations, and few in the trade union movement have been as revolutionary as the New Unionism movement of the late 19th century. Led by Ben Tillett and Tom Mann, this movement took the fight for workers’ rights beyond the skilled trades and into the ranks of unskilled labour, proving that real power lay in unity and mass organisation.
Of course, Tillett held some extremely unsavoury views about Jewish migration, so when I refer to his legacy I speak specifically to his work in organising unskilled labour.
The success of the 1889 London Dockers’ Strike & the 1888 Matchgirls' Strike wasn’t just a victory for dockers and matchmakers; it was a demonstration of how bold collective action can change the course of society. Over 130 years later, we face new challenges that demand we look to their example and reimagine what trade unionism means in the 21st century.
The TLDR of the New Unionism Movement
In the 19th Century, unions largely represented skilled workers who had heightened leverage because of their expertise, and therefore harder to replace. Organisers like Tillett and Mann recognised that this focus was too narrow.
It left out the vast majority of workers - those doing hard, dangerous, unskilled labour who had little power on their own. By expanding union membership to these workers, they redefined the labour movement and unlocked a new source of strength.
New Unionism also brought about more militant and direct-action tactics, which contrasted sharply with the conservative, negotiation-focused approach of earlier unions.
Tillett argued for harsher strikes and mass protests, understanding that large-scale collective action was necessary to force concessions from employers, particularly for workers who had little individual bargaining power.
There was also an increased emphasis on the principle of solidarity across industries, fostering a spirit of cooperation between different sectors of the working class. This new, more dynamic approach to organising laid the groundwork for the broader, more inclusive trade union movements of the 20th century, significantly influencing labour legislation and the development of the modern welfare state.
Today, unions must once again expand their scope to meet the realities of a shifting labour market. But in doing so, we must also radically rethink how unions operate—and this means embracing technology, engaging more actively with migrant workers, and discarding the outdated, hierarchical structures that hold us back.
What would a 21st Century version look like?
At the 2022 TUC Congress there was a motion backed by Unite, Unison, PCS, the Bakers’ Union, and POA that was unanimously passed calling for a greater focus on collective action. The motion effectively called for the General Council to form a “special working group of willing unions” to coordinate a cross-sector campaign of action over general pay and conditions.
In my view one of the key things we must do is redefine our purpose to workers. The old model of unionism is centred around negotiating wages, hours, and benefits for workers in stable, long-term employment. But today, majority of workers don’t have the luxury of stable jobs with predictable hours.
We need to expand our focus to address the broader range of issues workers face; precarious employment, lack of social protections, access to affordable healthcare, housing, and even education.
Workers in the gig economy, for example, don’t just need better pay; they need security, rights, and benefits that aren’t tied to traditional full-time employment. The union movement must fight for these workers by pushing for new forms of social protections that fit the realities of today’s workforce.
In the spirit of the new unions, we must actively extend the hand of solidarity to migrant workers, ensuring that unions actively advocate for their rights, regardless of their immigration status.
Migrants form a significant part of today’s labour market, especially in sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and construction. They are often exploited, underpaid, and face numerous barriers to unionisation.
We need to ensure that specific organisers have the skills and understanding to address language barriers, cultural differences, and the fear many migrant workers have of retribution or deportation if they speak out. By actively changing the way that we try to unionise them we not only increase our strength as a bargaining force, but objectively improve their standard of life.
Actively embracing technology is also key to the future of the movement. The rise of the gig economy, casual work, and remote employment has scattered workers across different sectors and locations, making it harder to organise in the traditional ways.
Just as Tillett and Mann used direct action and mass mobilisation, we now need to leverage digital tools to connect workers who may never share the same physical workspace.
To do all of the above effectively, we need to remove the archaic structures that have made unions slow and resistant to change. Unions often operate with rigid hierarchies and cumbersome decision-making processes that no longer serve the needs of today’s workers.
The bureaucratic approach that characterises 20th-century unions must be replaced with more flexible, and streamlined models. Workers today want to feel empowered, not just represented. I can think of countless union branch meetings I’ve sat in that are too long, too slow, and result in few impactful actions.
Unions need to become more responsive, and capable of quickly adapting to the changing labour market. The RMT’s campaign 2022 strike campaign is a key example where it has been run insanely well, with swift responses that hit home.
The legacy of Tillett and Mann shows us that unions must evolve with the times.
They didn’t wait for change - they created it.
They didn’t just organise within the confines of the existing system - they broke down barriers and built a new one.
Now, in the 21st century, we must do the same.
Technology gives us the tools to connect and empower a new generation of workers.
Non-traditionally unionised workers offer us the opportunity to expand the movement’s reach and impact.
Eliminating outdated structures will make unions more agile and responsive to workers’ needs.
And most importantly, redefining our purpose to meet the needs of today’s workforce.
The future of the trade union movement depends on our willingness to adapt, innovate, and fight for the rights of all workers, not just those in traditional employment, but every worker, everywhere. More specifics to come.
- Twelves