Report on the Legacy of Tom Sawyer and Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report details the career and contributions of Tom Sawyer, former Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) and a key architect in the formation of UNISON. It assesses his legacy through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting how his work in the trade union and labour movements aligns with global objectives for social and economic progress.

Career Trajectory and Key Achievements

Tom Sawyer’s career was marked by a commitment to modernizing and strengthening the UK’s labour movement. His professional journey can be summarized by the following key milestones:

1. 1971: Began his career with the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE), serving as its northern regional officer.
2. 1981: Appointed Deputy General Secretary of NUPE, a position from which he would significantly influence the future of public sector unionism.
3. 1993: Played a pivotal role in the merger of NUPE, the Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE), and the National Association of Local Government Officers (NALGO) to form UNISON. He was instrumental in drafting the union’s foundational rule book.
4. 1994: Transitioned to the Labour Party, assuming the role of General Secretary.
5. 1997: As a moderniser and organiser, he helped lead the Labour Party to a historic election victory.
6. 1998: Became a life peer, serving as Baron Sawyer of Darlington, following his departure from the role of General Secretary.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The work and vision of Tom Sawyer, particularly in the establishment of UNISON, demonstrate a strong alignment with several key Sustainable Development Goals. His efforts contributed to building institutions and frameworks that advance social justice and equitable development.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  Sawyer’s entire career was dedicated to advancing the principles of decent work. By helping to create UNISON, the UK’s largest union, he contributed to an institution focused on protecting labour rights, promoting secure working environments, and advocating for fair wages for over 1.3 million public service members. This directly supports SDG Target 8.8, which aims to protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The foundational vision for UNISON, which Sawyer helped enshrine, was that of a “modern progressive union, one where every member mattered.” This principle is a direct challenge to inequality. Trade unions are critical mechanisms for reducing income inequality by ensuring fair representation and collective bargaining power for workers in public, voluntary, and private sectors.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The creation of UNISON from three separate entities represents a significant achievement in building an effective, accountable, and inclusive institution. Sawyer’s role in drafting the rule book helped establish a robust governance framework for the union. Strong trade unions like UNISON are vital components of a just society, providing a powerful voice for workers and contributing to stable industrial relations and institutional strength.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The merger that formed UNISON is a prime example of SDG 17 in action. Sawyer, along with his counterparts from COHSE and NALGO, forged a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve a common objective: creating a more powerful and unified voice for public service workers. This strategic alliance enhanced the capacity of the labour movement to advocate for the goals of decent work and reduced inequality.

Conclusion

As noted by UNISON General Secretary Christina McAnea, Tom Sawyer made a “huge contribution to the labour movement.” His legacy is not only in the institutions he helped build, such as UNISON and a modernised Labour Party, but also in their alignment with enduring principles of sustainable development. His work in establishing strong, inclusive, and partnership-oriented organisations has had a lasting impact on the promotion of decent work and the reduction of inequality in the United Kingdom.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article is centered on the trade union movement, specifically the creation and function of UNISON, the UK’s largest union. Trade unions are fundamental to achieving decent work, as their primary purpose is to advocate for workers’ rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions. The article’s focus on Tom Sawyer’s career in NUPE and his role in founding UNISON directly connects to the promotion of decent work for the union’s “more than 1.3 million members providing public services.”

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article details the creation of UNISON through the merger of three separate unions. This process of building a large, modern, and effective institution is a core aspect of SDG 16. The text highlights the effort to “prepare solid foundations for UNISON” and draft a “rule book that would enshrine the vision of a modern progressive union, one where every member mattered.” This demonstrates the building of an effective, accountable, and inclusive institution to represent workers.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • By their nature, trade unions work to reduce inequalities by bargaining for fair wage structures and social protections for workers. UNISON, representing public service employees in sectors like education, local government, and the NHS, plays a crucial role in advocating for policies that can lead to greater income equality for a significant portion of the workforce.

4. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article, while focused on Tom Sawyer, begins with a quote from UNISON’s current general secretary, Christina McAnea. The fact that the UK’s largest union is led by a woman is a significant, though indirect, point of connection to SDG 5, which aims to ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic and public life.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.

   • The entire narrative about the formation and purpose of UNISON relates to this target. The union’s existence is a mechanism to protect the labor rights of its 1.3 million members. The description of Tom Sawyer’s work to create a “modern progressive union” that would serve its members is a direct reflection of efforts to achieve this target.

2. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

   • The article mentions the process of “building support across all three unions” and drafting a rule book where “every member mattered.” This points to the creation of a participatory and representative institution (the union) where members’ voices are central to its governance and decision-making processes.

3. Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.

   • The fundamental activity of a trade union like UNISON, which represents public service workers, is to engage in collective bargaining and advocate for wage and social protection policies. This is the primary method through which it works to achieve greater equality for its members, directly aligning with the objective of Target 10.4.

4. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

   • The article identifies Christina McAnea as the general secretary of UNISON. Her position as the leader of the UK’s largest union is a clear example of a woman in a top leadership role within a major economic and social institution, which is a key objective of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 8.8: Freedom of association and collective bargaining.

   • The existence and operation of UNISON as “the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members” serves as a powerful, tangible indicator of the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining being exercised in the UK. The sheer number of members indicates the scale of this activity. This relates to official indicator 8.8.2 (Level of national compliance with labour rights).

2. Implied Indicator for Target 16.7: Proportions of positions in public institutions.

   • The figure of “more than 1.3 million members” can be seen as an indicator of the scale of this representative institution. The structure of the union, formed from a merger and governed by a rule book where “every member mattered,” implies a system of representation, which is a qualitative indicator of progress towards inclusive institutions.

3. Indicator for Target 5.5: Proportion of women in managerial/leadership positions.

   • The article’s mention of “general secretary Christina McAnea” provides a direct, albeit singular, data point. It confirms a woman holds the highest leadership position in the UK’s largest union, serving as a qualitative indicator for official indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: unison.org.uk