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Thinking Business
a blog by Chris Barrow
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The Social Media Shop Steward



Back in the dark days of the 1970's, the shop steward represented the "workers' rights" I mentioned in last Friday's post.


  1. Join the union;

  2. I will then represent you in negotiations with "the bosses".


This created great fights in the 70's and 80's over "Industrial Relations".


Perhaps the most memorable - Arthur Scargill versus Margaret Thatcher during the miner's strikes.


Scargill was initially a member of the Young Communist League, became a Labour Party member until he founded his own Socialist Labour Party in 1996.


As leader of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) he led repeated battles against mine-owners and politicians and is largely attributed to have brought down the Edward Heath Tory Government in the early 70's.


Ultimately, his final battle with Thatcher ended in defeat, most of the the mines closed and Scargill's career came to an end amidst allegations of hypocrisy around his generous levels of compensation from the NUM's (National Union of Mineworkers) funds.


Whilst in office and in the media spotlight, he caused massive disruption - because he had what's now known as "reach".


Like a 1980's Nigel Farage, wherever Scargill was, the media were there, guaranteed that his words and actions would be BOP - bold, outrageous and provocative.


History lesson over.


Now to the present day - and social media.


Can you imagine how Scargill would have used social media to promote his ideologies? Answer - just as potently as his modern day equivalents.


We've seen that over the last 24 hours, following President Biden's withdrawal from the U.S. Elections.


Which brings me to a another modern day challenge - the militant dental social media shop steward.


Every category of dental team member, clinical, management, team and owners - have their own social media shop stewards, active on social media.


They are people who are hyperactive across multiple channels, sharing BOP opinions on pay, contracts, working conditions and their paymasters, almost always arguing (as did Scargill) for MORE, MORE, MORE, with no time for any discussion as to HOW, HOW, HOW that MORE is going to be paid for?


Equally arguing (as did Scargill) for resistance to change (read A.I.) - because change often costs jobs.


The social media shop steward argues for more pay and better working conditions:


  • because "the bosses" are getting rich at their expense;

  • because comparisons with colleagues and/or other employment sectors reveal a disadvantage;

  • because they grace us by turning up.


The social media shop steward argues against automation and innovation:


  • because "the bosses" are getting richer as a result;

  • because they have always done it their way;

  • because they see their jobs at risk of replacement by technology and, now, machine learning.


The social media shop steward is focused on the problem, not the solution; on blame, not responsibility, on turning a perceived win:lose into a lose:win, not a win:win.


Here's a word of advice for any Employer (and a tactic that I use every week).


When reviewing applicants for a job, always search for and check their social media channels and have a look at the opinions they express online.


It will give you advance warning of any shop stewards who may be either looking to infiltrate or hide within your organisation.


Trust me - you don't want a Scargill in your team.


By the way - he's still at it:




 
 
 

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