For too long, the T&G has been trapped in a culture of decline. And we have all been left weaker as a result. A growing union, with more members, increased finances and stronger organisation, would strengthen our bargaining power, and influence with employers and government.

Over the years there has been no shortage of strategies to deal with decline - events, seminars, conferences and 'action weekends'. But too little work at the sharp end.

Many lay members and officers have made heroic efforts to recruit. But they have not had the support and strategic backing from the top, which they deserved. They have yet to be backed with the resources required.

The T&G now has fewer than 800,000 paying members, compared with over two million twenty years ago. This has forced the union into financial cutbacks, and into a negative cycle of cuts-falling membership-more cuts and so on.

We need a fundamental change. The situation is so serious that it demands a complete rethink of our organisation and recruitment strategy. I recognise that it is everybody's responsibility to recruit. However, we cannot grow and sustain the union by simply placing greater demands upon full-time officers.

We must also recognise that recruitment in the new service sector is completely different from in the traditional areas, which have historically formed the backbone of our union.


There are millions of unorganised workers who need the T&G. We are still not making enough use of the new opportunities. The good practice we can already see in some areas and industries needs to be replicated everywhere. Remember - more new members mean a stronger union, which is of benefit to our existing membership as well.


Sustained targeted recruitment by highly trained specialist recruiters is necessary to achieve meaningful success. Therefore I will establish separate professional union-wide recruitment and organisational teams to give a lead on this vital aspect of our work, I will work with colleagues in the regions/sectors to produce a realistic plan for T&G growth, targeted on specific companies and industries.

Crucially I will take our union back into towns and cities that we have evacuated becoming once again a Community based union giving the lead in all aspects of Community life-growing the Union at grass roots level.

I was delighted that following my suggestion during the DGS election the T&G decided to look at involving itself with the TUC's Organising Academy, which has brought benefits to other unions, but which the T&G inexplicably shunned for too long. I will build further on this opportunity.