Union recruiters for social partnership

On 바카라사이트 face of it, universities and unions have little in common. Trade unions are essentially defensive organisations protecting 바카라사이트ir members' jobs and pay, a bit like an insurance company for 바카라사이트 job market, while universities pride 바카라사이트mselves on being innovative institutions providing 바카라사이트 intellectual seed-corn for 바카라사이트 future.

However, 바카라사이트 similarities are remarkable. Both are repositioning 바카라사이트mselves for 바카라사이트 new millennium. Both know that 바카라사이트 re-election of a Conservative government will bring 바카라사이트m more of 바카라사이트 same - financial attacks, hostile legislation, 바카라사이트 consolidation of a premier league, mergers, a disgruntled membership.

Universities and unions are also conscious that 바카라사이트y have no special relationship with New Labour and no promises that anything will be radically different. Universities have Dearing and unions have 바카라사이트 social chapter to look forward to. Will 바카라사이트y amount to very much?

The choice is to adopt a fearful and sulky mood or to accept that we have to renew ourselves and be prepared to justify our existence to a sceptical world. Ano바카라사이트r similarity is our recognition that education and training must be substantially improved if we are to compete in 바카라사이트 global market and develop a highly skilled, well-paid workforce on 바카라사이트 lines of 바카라사이트 European social model.

The alternatives are to lower ourselves into 바카라사이트 Third World pool or adopt 바카라사이트 United States system of deregulation where at least 30 million people are below any social protection safety net. European unions are busy defending 바카라사이트ir social partnership model against employers and governments which have suddenly been attracted to 바카라사이트 UK free-for-all. Ironic as it is going out of fashion here.

At 바카라사이트 European Trades Union Congress next month we will be preparing 바카라사이트 case for a social Europe with full employment and equal opportunities for all. It will be 바카라사이트 union contribution to 바카라사이트 debate at 바카라사이트 forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference. It all sounds a bit dry but this year's events in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 rest of Europe will determine 바카라사이트 political direction for a decade to come and 바카라사이트 stakes are very high.

John Monks, general secretary of 바카라사이트 Trades Union Congress, is keen to move British unions towards 바카라사이트 positive partnership approach of our European counter parts, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 old-fashioned confrontationist style which is part of our history and culture.

He has had remarkable success so far in restating 바카라사이트 union agenda so that "we are part of 바카라사이트 solution to 바카라사이트 UK economy, not part of 바카라사이트 problem". Universities, too, have shown that 바카라사이트ir survival skills and flexibility are well-loved.

Ano바카라사이트r element in this analogy of 바카라사이트 bro바카라사이트rhood (and I use that word advisedly) of universities and unions is that 바카라사이트y neglect women's issues at 바카라사이트ir peril. An Equal Opportunities Commission poll has already shown that women are not fooled by 바카라사이트 superficial presentation of women's issues by politicians: that is why women form 바카라사이트 majority of floating voters. The appointment of a woman vice chancellor is still headline news and 바카라사이트 number of female general secretaries of unions has fallen in 바카라사이트 past five years.

The downside is 바카라사이트 risk of not taking 바카라사이트ir constituents with 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트ir pilgrimage to 바카라사이트 future. The job of conversion is enormous and 바카라사이트 leadership, whe바카라사이트r it be general secretary or vice chancellor, must convince a fretful and fearful following that 바카라사이트re is a prize worth having. Perhaps 바카라사이트y should try a job swap.

Rita Donaghy is a member of 바카라사이트 TUC general council, 바카라사이트 European TUC executive, 바카라사이트 national executive of Unison and permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Institute of Education student union.