Trade unions and professional bodies in physiotherapy

From the outset I should make it clear that the contents of this blog are a personal view (and one that is in a state of devlopment). One of the things I've often wondered is whether British physios' best interestes are being served through have their professional body and their union all within the same organisation. It's easy to assume that because things have always been done in a certain way then that is the way it should continue into the future. The CSP generally does an OK job as a union but it's strength lies more in being a professional body. As a union it is rather small and therefore cannot act in a unilateral manner when it comes to members' interests.And which member of the public has ever heard of the CSP? I think that CSP members should ask questions about what they want from a trade union and how this differs from a professional body. I'm not saying this because the CSP does a particulary bad job at being a union but what I would like to know is whether another way of doing things would be a lot better for physios. A cause for hesitation is occupational therapists. Their professinal body and unions are separate yet this does not seem to make any marked difference to them. Another cause for caution is the reality of NHS pay and conditions bargaining. There is unlikely to be much more on offer to a profession regardless of whether they are independent or members of a big union. I think it's always a good idea to look at dfferent ways of doing things but I'm not sure if change would produce any benefits but it's something we should be open to. I have never even heard it spoken of before.