Trade unionists as much as anyone else need to make the most of their time – and the web is now full of time-management tools that promise to make all of us more efficient.
I’ve been using web-based tools for years to do several tasks which many of us probably still do with pen and paper – or on desktop PCs.

Google Calendar is already replacing traditional diaries (as well as Microsoft Outlook) for many, and is well worth a look. It works closely with Google Mail, and both can be features of iGoogle which is a wonderful start page.
There are many web-based to-do lists, including Ta-da and Remember the Milk; some of these will integrate nicely with Google Calendar.
Another key time management tool is time-tracking software. This is essential if you are working for more than one employer or working on more than one project. There are several excellent web-based choices such as Harvest , but my own preference is the free Toggl.
I keep my address book on Highrise, from the same company that offers Ta-da.
The advantages to unions of using the web for to-do lists, calendars, address books and time tracking include reduced cost (the software is free) and continuous upgrades (you’re automatically using the latest version). As you are downloading nothing, there is no risk of viruses. And as the software sits on a remote server and not on an individual PC, several staffers can share a single machine. Those who spend time outside the office can access any of these sites on other computers, or on their mobile phones.
I meet people sometimes who don’t even keep a to-do list on paper, which I find strange. Some people keep everything in their heads, including phone numbers. For the rest of us, managing our personal information online is a great tool for time management. And the better we manage our time, the better we serve our members.