SWU General Secretary John McGowan reflects on World Social Work Day

I am writing this blog after a wonderful day meeting with SWU and BASW members and other social work professionals at the busy COMPASS Event in Birmingham. One of the attractions of coming here is the chance to engage with members and hear first-hand about workplace, professional issues and the difficulties experienced by social work students. I even enjoyed setting up the SWU stall on the Sunday evening!

Today of course marks World Social Work Day, first celebrated in 2007 to highlight the achievements of social work, to raise the visibility of social services for the future of societies, and to defend social justice and human rights. An event like this is also an opportunity to emphasise that trade unions have been one of the most effective social movements for the advancement of democracy and social justice in capitalist societies.

I sense from my engagements at COMPASS that there’s a growing trend for the old days of unionism and a shift away from the bigger unions that developed through mergers or simply being absorbed due to a decline in industry. Some of the large unions cover 120 professions and you can’t really advocate for each of these professions within that membership.

SWU has continually campaigned, in conjunction with other unions and organisations, for the extension of democracy through the advocacy of universal participation in politics, anti-austerity campaigns, and challenges to social programmes that do not meet the basic social needs of all. National neoliberal fiscal austerity measures continue to cripple the very people that we as social workers are trying to create positive change for. A real strength is that union members want to be active through our Union Contact member programme and further opportunities to engage with activism.

Unions have a representative role in the workplace. In addition, a more collaborative approach with the British Association of Social Workers – our professional association – will work best for social workers in the long term.  The ongoing campaigns from SWU and BASW to improve work conditions is one example where over the last 12 months the two organisations have continued to lobby for change and will continue to do so. I am proud of the outstanding Advice and Representation service and membership support we offer together with BASW.

Thanks for the great discussions with members and non-members whom I met at COMPASS and a selection allowing me to capture the energy and promotion of our wonderful profession and for promising to share the union message and come join us.