In 2008, Arnolfini and Relational commissioned Plan 9 to respond to Far West, which explored the shifting of the economic centre of the world to the East.

Most of the staff (technicians, invigilators, cafe and shop staff) in large arts institutions are artists. Plan 9 members Sophie Mellor and Karen Di Franco created Plan 9 Trade Union, which was designed to radicalise artists in their satellite careers. The Plan 9 Trade Union was founded to:

1. To protect the rights of freelance artworkers
2. To ensure freelance artworkers are treated fairly by their employers
3. To negotiate good and fair working conditions for Plan 9 Trade Union members
4. To acknowledge the hidden art economy endemic in all major art institutions, which is staffed and visited by artworkers, and without which art institutions would struggle to find such gifted and qualified workers.

Plan 9 Trade Union members staffed the Far West off-site store, which was located in the Galleries Shopping Centre, Broadmead, Bristol. Plan 9 Trade Union negotiated the terms and conditions of employment of Union members with the Management of Arnolfini and Relational. Details of the series of negotiations and communications between Plan 9 Trade Union and Management can be found by clicking on the links on the right.

Plan 9 Trade Union members paid a percentage of their wages as Union subs, and this money will be used by Plan 9 Trade Union to assist the careers of Union members.

Plan 9 Trade Union existed for the finite period of the Far West project at the Arnolfini (27 June – 24 July 2008).

It has now morphed into Trade Union.