Bread on the waters

A history of TGWU Education

John Fisher, Lawrence and Wishart, 256 pages, paperback, £15

John Fisher, the current director of the Transport and General Workers Union’s (T&G) Education and International Department, describes how education programmes have helped develop the shop steward system in the union and contributed to its internal democracy.

He also captures very well the exhilaration and confidence members have experienced as a result of union education courses, something that is difficult to quantify.

As one T&G leader put it: “Money spent on education is always bread cast upon the waters. We can’t make a tidy balance sheet, as we can with other union benefits. What we can do is show confidence in our members and have faith in their ability to make good use of the facilities offered them.”