This summer’s strikes are already working – unions, set your sights even higher

Polly Smythe, 

The strength of the trade union movement, the historian Eric Hobsbawm once wrote, cannot be fully understood by looking at curves on a graph that show membership. Instead, there are “jumps,” “leaps” and “explosions” in activity. For him, these unpredictable peaks and sudden moments of upsurge are produced by “accumulations of inflammable material which only ignite periodically, as it were under compression”.Britain is experiencing a moment of ignition right now. Welcome to what many have already dubbed “hot strike summer”.You need to register to keep readingIt’s still free to read - this is not a paywallWe’re committed to keeping our quality reporting open. By registering and providing us with insight into your preferences, you’re helping us to engage with you more deeply, and that allows us to keep our journalism free for all. You’ll always be able to control your own privacy settings.Register for freeI’ll do it laterHave a subscription? Made a contribution? Already registered?Sign InWhy register & how does it help?How will my information & data be used?Get help with registering or signing in

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