A mass meeting of West Virginia teachers during the recent strike action| Image: AFT – West Virginia

Video: what is rank-and-file trade unionism?

Ian Allinson • March 15, 2018

Trade unions are essential to workers struggling to improve their conditions. But the leaderships of large trade unions don’t have the same interests as their workers. Too often, a reliance on union bosses leads ordinary workers to defeat, as leaders cancel or dial down militant action and preserve a state of peace with management.

In this video, rs21’s Ian Allinson looks at the alternative to the union bureaucracy – a vital, self-reliant politics of the rank-and-file membership.

rank and file strikes trade unions TUC video

A crowd of mostly white people, all dressed in different ways. In the middle, just off to the right, there is a sign which has three options as a check boxes. It has Boy, Girl and then the third option which has been checked with a cross, which says 'Fuck You'. In the foreground stands a person with blue hot shorts and bleached hair made to stand up with product.

Maleness, femaleness, heterosexuality – sold to us by capitalism

Colin Wilson • July 20, 2026

Colin Wilson explains how capitalism makes big money selling ‘natural’ ways of life.

Infantino and Trump holding a football and smiling

Whose World Cup?

Sam O • July 16, 2026

The tournament’s rot is capitalism’s, but the game belongs to us

A photo of a street in Jaywick. The houses look cheap and broken, the streets need to be fixed.

Farage in Clacton – Socialists need to build resistance everywhere

Rachel Iboraii • July 13, 2026

An in depth look at Clacton’s history and fighting back against Farage and the far right

The workers have the power

DK Renton • September 12, 2025

Workers have the power to bring the capitalist system down

ASLEF train drivers’ union picket of London Kings Cross station 30th July 2022

Money matters for strikes

Ian Allinson • October 12, 2022

Ian Allinson argues that both strikers and supporters need to get serious about fundraising, and explains how the process can help spread unionisation and resistance to more workers.