Like taking coals to Newcastle: A new era for trade unionism in the North East of England?

Behind the News focuses on trade unionism in the North East, discussing changes in employment and skill levels and the detrimental impact this has had on the workplace and on trade union membership. Developing the discussion, it identifies recent activity undertaken by unions and the Northern TUC to strengthen both the effectiveness of regional trade union institutions and grassroots participation and membership. The catalyst for this has been the (re) emergence of union interest in learning and skills, and the innovative way that union learning reps and the learning and skills agenda have been used to provide an opportunity to renew workplace and governance engagement.