Description

This joint course, organised with the ETUF-TCL, analysed trade union recruitment and organising strategies and practices for union growth in the textile, clothing and leather sector, and ways of overcoming resistance to the organisational change taking place in that sector. There were presentations on the most useful international instruments for promoting recruitment or organising activities. Working groups addressed the following issues: why people join trade unions, and why some do not; the main differences between servicing and organising unions; organising and recruitment opportunities and obstacles; mapping a workplace; and one-on-one recruitment. It was agreed that unorganised workers needed to be approached carefully and that trade union organisers should have a listening attitude. Recruitment of female workers was easier if done by female organisers and young organisers were better at recruiting young workers. Several trade unions decided to focus more on organising and recruitment in their training activities and felt that further exchanges of methods and materials would be very helpful.