The TUC and civil alliance building: towards social movement unionism?

British union revival strategies range from recruitment and US-style organising approaches and workplace partnerships through union mergers and restructuring to efforts to (re-)build political and institutional conduits. Social movement unionism (SMU), unionism which extends beyond concern with matters of job regulation to ‘reaching out’ to other groups to emphasise social justice aims, has never formed a central characteristic of British unionism. However, recent interview and documentary evidence suggests that the Trades Union Council (TUC) is increasingly engaging in alliances with other social movements and parties. While TUC insiders view this activity as a facet of familiar revival strategies, examples were provided of how it encourages a broadening of labour movement purpose to emphasise solidarity around wider social justice interests. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study findings for TUC and union policy and development.