Futures Network: A New Look at Union Power
Distinguished Professor Anthony Forsyth (RMIT College of Business and Law, author of The Future of Unions and Worker Representation - The Digital Picket Line) and Alison Rudman (Secretary, CFMEU Manufacturing NSW and PhD candidate, University of Sydney) talk about their work on case studies of union strategy, with a particular focus on how unions build and exercise power.
Futures Network: What is AI? Outline and example of its impact in the creative and information industries
Rapid advances in AI and machine learning and its application in the workplace has led to some highly visible disputes in film and creative industries over recent months – but these developments in technology are a continuation of change in workplaces in all industries. In this, the second of a series of three Futures Network meetings in 2023 devoted to a discussion of AI and its potential and pitfalls for workers, Conor Aitken, data specialist, cybersecurity consultant and member of Professionals Australia gives a glimpse "under the hood" of what AI actually is, while Niki Baras, a translator and interpreter and also organiser for Translators and Interpreters Australia (part of Professionals Australia) describes its impact on her industry and the union response.
Futures Network: New Digital Tools – AI chat and more
Over the course of 2023, new and innovative tools and technology were developed by affiliates and TLCs to support union campaigns. This workshop looks at some of the tools built for Unions for Yes, which could have ongoing application in digital campaigning across the movement.
Futures Network: AI and algoritmic management
AI is taking the world by storm, and revolutionising the world of work in the process. Unions, like every sector of society, will need to find effective ways to respond. Across three workshops in September, October, and November, the Futures Network explored some of the most pressing questions relevant for unions in this emerging space. In this, the first of the series, a panel outlined key recent developments, how they impact workers and what needs to be considered in unions’ response.
Informal Workers: From Atomised Objects to Collective Subjects
In this workshop, Professor Chris Tilly from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs drew on his research as well as that of others to explore key lessons from experiences of organising informal or irregular workers – those not reached by labour law, such as domestic workers, undocumented migrant workers, contract workers and on-demand workers. His presentation was followed by a panel of unions related their experience with organising informal workers.
Can unions use AI and ChatGPT to grow or lift capacity?
This workshop, the third in a Futures Network series on AI, explored areas where unions could use ChatGPT and other AI, machine learning and large language models for growth, communications, campaigning and operations.
Innovation in a large-scale industrial campaign: ANMF Vic public sector EBA
The recently concluded Public Sector EBA campaign for Victorian Nurses and Midwives was massive in scale, including a highly successful Protected Action Ballot with over 50,000 members spread across 104 separate employers. Megan Reeve from ANMF was the campaign lead for the 2024 public sector bargaining round and talked through some of the challenges and innovations over the course of the campaign and shared some of what they learnt.
Campaigning for a living wage in Aotearoa NZ
Lyndy McIntyre, author of "Power to Win: the living wage movement in Aotearoa New Zealand" presented on the innovative approach of their model of campaigning and how they pressed case and built the power needed for low-paid workers to win.
Industrial support: systems to help unions win for members and grow
A union’s ability to efficiently handle industrial inquiries, while identifying organising opportunities to build power, is crucial for a union’s effectiveness, member retention and for growth. This can can involve CRMs, case management systems, delegates and Member Service Centres. Many unions have trialled new processes and have developed and honed systems and workflows to manage industrial inquiries, grievances and disputes. We hear from three unions about their trial of a new policy for industrial support for new supporters, a national industrial reporting system, and the operation of their member service centre.
How can unions and organisers use LinkedIn to connect with workers and grow their union?
At this Futures Network meeting we heard from union communications and digital teams, as well as field organisers, who have been using LinkedIn as a tool to organise and communicate.
Breaking New Ground in Bargaining
Unions have delivered major breakthroughs under new bargaining laws. Attendees heard directly from some of the people behind these wins.
Union Growth
Australia’s union movement has recently experienced remarkable growth. From 2022 to 2024, union membership grew by 12.3% – the largest increase in over a decade! This session provides some analysis of this growth and what it means for the union movement going forward.
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