Union Label weblogs
Union Label is a group whose purpose is to promote trade unionism by displaying a union label on its members' weblogs.
If every blogger who was a member of a trade union made that fact clear to their readers, it would generate excellent publicity for the labour movement. By displaying a union label on your weblog, you can help support unionism while tapping in to a network of unionist bloggers and their readers.
Note: These weblogs are not necessarily related to the labour movement or politics. Any weblog run by a member of a trade union is entitled to participate.
Associate membership: Bloggers who are not members of a trade union for one reason or another (unemployed, retired, self-employed, etc) but who support the principles of organised labour are eligible for associate membership.
What is a union label?
A union label is a small logo that is displayed on goods that are produced by union labour. Sometimes a union label is called a "bug" because of its oval shape -- like the back of a beetle.
Union labels became popular as the printing industry -- which was heavily unionised -- expanded. The typographical unions insisted that publications printed by unionists carried a label, while non-union publications were denied it. This allowed customers to decide whether or not to support the publication. The idea caught on and spread to other industries.
The union label includes some important information. Apart from signifying the use of union labour, it also contains the name of the union and its location. The union label was often accompanied by a number or code that would identify the individual shop at which the item was produced.
Some union labels:
For more information about the history of the union label, see Lincoln Cushing's Proposal for Inclusion of Union Label Description In Bibliographic and Archival Cataloging Guidelines, or his more recent article on the same subject.
Can I display the label?
Membership of Union Label entitles you to display the Union Label on your weblog. You can opt for a traditional "bug"-style label, like this:
Alternatively, you may wish to use a more modern label, like this:
Membership of the group is open to anyone who is a member of a trade union and maintains a weblog.
If you would like to join the Association, send an application by email to Robert Corr, including the following details:
Your name (or pen-name).
The name and URL of your weblog.
The name and URL (if possible) of your trade union.
When your membership is confirmed, you will be added to the membership list and informed how to add the Union Label to your site.
Your email address will be kept entirely confidential. It will be used only to update you about the status of this project -- for example, if you need to update the code on your webpage. If you would prefer that I discarded your address, just let me know.
I'm not in a union -- can I still join in?
Associate membership of Union Label entitles you to display a supporters logo on your weblog, like this:
If you would like to join Union Label as an associate member, send an application by email to Robert Corr, including the following details:
Your name (or pen-name).
The name and URL of your weblog.
When your associate membership is confirmed, you will be added to the membership list and informed how to add the Union Label to your site.
Your email address will be kept entirely confidential. It will be used only to update you about the status of this project -- for example, if you need to update the code on your webpage. If you would prefer that I discarded your address, just let me know.