No, there isn’t a trade union for librarians. Why not, because trade unions are
employer-based, and librarians are employed in an enormously wide number of
bodies. An organisation like the
BMA can function as a trade union and as a professional body because the
overwhelming majority of doctors are employed (in the broadest sense of the
term) by a single employer, the NHS, and the NHS recognises its right to
negotiate for them. Even if CILIP
wanted to function as a trade union, and I don’t think for a moment that it
should, it would have to gain recognition from this multitude of employers
before it could start – and why should employers recognise a body that can
only represent a small proportion of its employees? It would be a crazy waste of both the
employer’s and CILIP’s resources, and totally again the current trend for
single union deals.
The sensible thing to do is to join the appropriate trade union for
your sector, and then work within it to ensure that it represents your
interests, just as you would within CILIP. A number of unions, my own included,
have structures which represent specific sectors or professions. Those groups can liaise with CILIP to
ensure that when the union, the recognised negotiating body, is talking to
employers, it can draw on CILIP’s advice as needed. You need your professional body and
your trade union (and if it’s a good union it can your professional subs paid
for you – mine does.)
Suzanne Burge
National
Councillor
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