Trade unions in extreme environments: a case study of organising for industrial action during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose The Trade Union Act (2016) demands that unions develop new organising tactics. The COVID-19 pandemic made such organising all the more difficult. The paper represents a case study of the development of a prototype organising model for extreme environments. Design/methodology/approach It is a case study of a medium-sized branch of the University and College Union (UCU) organising to resist redundancies in an extreme environment. The study involved interviews with senior members of the Branch organising team, alongside a short survey of members convinced to vote in a ballot for industrial action. Findings Findings reveal tactics most influential in a successful strategy to win a statutory ballot when faced with an extreme environment. Research limitations/implications The research is based on a modest dataset and unique extreme circumstances. Practical implications A key strength is the practical implications for union organising tactics and strategy when facing extreme environments. The findings have the potential to be shared across branches, as well as scaled up for larger bargaining units. Social implications The organising model developed has the potential to influence contemporary union organising tactics and strategy, thus providing protection to working people in increasingly extreme and restrictive environments. Originality/value Despite a recent surge of UK unions balloting members for industrial action, there is a dearth of research considering organising tactics and strategy under challenging legal and wider extreme circumstances. A key contribution is an empirical/practical account of a successful trade union campaign during extreme circumstances.