The Customer as Ally: The Role of The Customer in the Finance Sector Union's Campaigning

By Leanne Cutcher

The Finance Sector Union (FSU) has pursued a range of strategies that rely o the incorporation of customers as allies in their campaigning.

. Using campaign material emphasising shared customer and employee concerns, the union developed alliances with consumer and community groups.

These appeals for solidarity are not without difficulty. The notion of the customer as the workers friend, and vice-versa is not so simple on the ground.

The campaigning idea was firmly based in the US union experience of community unionism and the author sets out the US models and how the FSU structures and governance impact on the community unionism idea. She also sets out the limits of community and consumer group involvement and/or support, through funding difficulties or other issues.

(Journal of Industrial Relations; vol 46, no 3, September 2004)