http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/features/In-search-of-charismatic-leadership
The transformational/transactional models referred to by Gall will be familiar to NEC, SGE and regional committee members who have completed the UNISON leadership training programme. The course materials are based on the approach outlined in the article. Naturally it will take time for the union to realise the full benefits of its investment in leadership training but, reflecting on the recent TUC Congress, the high quality and quantity of contributions from current UNISON lay leaders was in marked contrast to the mainly FTO low calibre output from other affiliates. This demonstrated the strength of UNISON as a member led public service union.
In a wider sense, there is much evidence to suggest that the labour movement is in barren times – between new labour’s embrace of neo-liberalism and the political illiteracy of the ultra-left there is not much in the way of a home for a new generation of progressive left trade unionists.
We need to seek to identify those with commitment and potential and immerse them in the richness of our ideology – not dogmatic slogans or inward activism – but real working class politics. There is an argument for the revival of political and economic schools in our union.
Partnership and servicing have blunted the idealism of our movement and warped the perspective of potential leaders. Organising workers into a powerful trade union movement requires commitment of course, it requires numbers obviously and it also requires politics. That why the union must quickly evolve into an organising union which provides inspirational leadership to activity, to galvanise and build on the anger people feel about the injustices in society, such as the economic crisis being caused by the few, and being paid for by the many. The political crisis - MP’s expenses - shows how out of touch the political elite is with the people who elected them.
Trade unions are still the largest voluntary working class organisations in society. We need leaders with vision, with energy and commitment to change the world. We need to give leadership to bring people together to challenge the prevailing ideologies. We need big ideas and high aspirations from our leaders.
Times are tough, it is crucial we have leaders who have credibility to deliver. That is why transformational leadership is essential to our movement. There is a vacuum of ideas, which is partly why right wing politics of alienation and hate are able to flourish. We need alternatives. We need to be able to show we have the answers. The trade union movement has a critical role to play in shaping the political arguments now and for the future. UNISON Million Voices for Change campaign is a first step in providing such leadership by setting out an alternative economic and political strategy,
http://www.unison.org.uk/million/index.asp
