News

Trade unionists are set to become more visible on the web, thanks to a new Facebook application from the TUC, launched today (Wednesday). My Union allows union members to place a badge for their union onto their Facebook profile, and to see which unions other friends belong to.

The application will also highlight official union Facebook groups, so should be helpful to unions that are seeking to network activists or promote campaigns on Facebook.

'This is the modern equivalent of the union pin badge,' said TUC National Organiser Paul Nowak. 'Many members are proud of their unions, and like to show their involvement, and this is an easy way for them to do so. A number of unions are reaching out to members using new web technologies, and this will help them to organise online, and raise the profiles of their unions in an environment popular with prospective members.'

The TUC is now planning to make the application available to unions in other countries to make the most of Facebook's international links between friends, and to show more of the global scope of trade unionism.

Anyone wanting to add the application to their own Facebook profile can do so at www.my-union.org



NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The application holds badges for the 59 unions that are affiliated to the TUC, and allows users to customise the badge further by describing their involvement with the union.

- Unions that currently use Facebook to engage with their members online include Unite, NUJ, Prospect and GMB.

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk

Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 7 Nov 2007 by the TUC http://www.tuc.org.uk