The network was founded at the beginning of 1999 by two trade union activists who were also anarchists and who were pissed off by the lack of anarchist presence in the wider trade union and labour movement.

@TU has attracted subscribers in several unions in Britain and Ireland including reformist unions such as UNISON, T&G, RMT, NUJ, GPMU, USDAW, and CWU. Also individual members of syndicalist unions such as Sol Fed and IWW. The anarchist press has also taken an interest and is responsible along with word of mouth, and our presence on the internet for the rapid growth of subscription levels to over 50 individuals by August 1999.

The object of @TU is to link up anarchists with an interest in work and trade unions, share information and news, debate issues, organise and generally raise the profile of anarchism in unions and to develop campaigns (for example pushing to get unions to disaffiliate from the Labour Party and to spend the money on their members). The network also aims to organise an anarchist presence on all the main labour movement marches and demonstrations and - working with other anarchist groups - to reclaim the anarchist origins of May Day.

The aims of @TU are to

1. act as a forum for anarchists to share, keep up to date with and exchange news and

views on union and work issues;

2. allow anarchists a platform to debate work and trade union related issues.

3. put anarchists in trade unions in touch with other anarchists in their union and locality;

The newsletter will be printed at least quarterly and the @TU web site will have up to

date information and news on it.

The network will only work if readers send stuff in. This can be anything to do with work

- details of industrial action, views on an issue, information about individual unions or

branches, requests to make contact with other anarchists in your union, reports of union

conferences and elections. Get involved and get in touch!

As can be seen from our aims and objectives @TU has a wide appeal and no specific agenda or grandiose world scheme. This is a deliberate strategy to encourage the growth of a co-ordinated anarchist presence within the movement. This is no wishy-washy cop out @TU includes revolutionary class struggle anarchists, evolutionary anarchists and the full 57 varieties. The sort of consciousness raising activities we're involved in fit into all agendas, so that's all right!

We plan on holding our first open meeting at the Anarchist Bookfair in October. Next year @TU will organise a conference on anarchism and trade unionism. Our organising agenda includes campaigns to forward co-ordinated strategies within reformist unions. Ideas so far are for disaffiliation from the Labour Party, shorter working week, industrial democracy and reduction of bureaucratic administration within unions.

Interest in anarchism is growing - we can play a part in raising its profile amongst workers.