To Wapping and back...

Great story here about the return of the NUJ to 'The Sun' (no, definitely no link!) after 20 years out in the cold.

Despite being prevented from gaining union recognition because News International recognises its own 'independent' (sic) staff association, some 50 Sun journos have decided enough is enough, and have voted to re-establish an NUJ 'chapel' at the paper.

Just as the move to Wapping 20 years ago summed up how bleak things were for unions, I think that this little bit of good news shows that there really are no 'no-go' areas for unions these days.

Just the other week I blogged about USDAW's efforts to organise 'Marks and Spencers', one of the traditional non-union bastions of the High Street, and Community's efforts to organise 'bookies'. With the GMB moving into casino's, and the T&G stepping up their efforts to organise cleaners and security guards, I think its fair to say that unions are really beginning to get to grips with those parts of the private service sector in which we used to fear to tread.

Let's hope we're successful enough to make Messrs Murdoch, O'Leary (Ryanair) and Rose (M&S) et al sit up and take notice!