To be able to work without causing harm to others, society, and nature should be considered a universal standard. The Union for Meaning recognizes this as an important employment condition to collectively get behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, this fundamental employment condition is scarcely achievable for working individuals in the Netherlands. When engaging in work, including travel movements and the resources necessary to fulfill job responsibilities, individuals often contribute to the exacerbation of the climate crisis, social inequality, and the endangerment of a sustainable future for present and future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In most industries, it is improbable to find an employer that permits individuals to truly claim that they are not causing harm to their surroundings and future prospects. The only remaining option is to resign and withdraw from the system. It should be feasible to sustain oneself through work without jeopardizing the wellbeing and future of ourselves, our children, nature, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Union for Meaning aims to unite employees to defend the need for ‘good work’. Through increasing the volume of worker voices in the way organizations influence society, the union contributes to the democratization of society and labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Union for Meaning departs from the premise of “not-knowing.” We do not assert any absolute truth nor point fingers at “bad” organizations. Instead, we acknowledge that people in politics, organizations, and society as a whole have yet to figure out how to organize things differently and how to collaborate in doing so. Both our members and the organizations they work for are searching in ways to organize ‘good work’. We aim to create a space of not-knowing to explore which steps can help us move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By giving a voice to workers in an organization’s policy concerning its impact on society, we believe that a new perspectives on “good” work can emerge. By organizing counter-power, we can challenge and strengthen existing ideas and sustainable initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union is dedicated to unifying workers to have a collective voice in how work can be organized meaningfully and sustainably within organizations, without harming the environment or others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We achieve this by creating counter-power and negiotate better (social and ecological sustainable) working conditions with organizational management as representatives of the workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To enable good work, the Union for Meaning focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n