This week we have seen the normal cat calls from certain newspapers and TV stations that Trade Unions are dinosaurs and are unrepresentative. Well, leaving aside the question as to whether dinosaurs have actually died out it’s worthwhile getting behind the name calling.
Lets ask some questions about the newspapers first. Who owns them and are editors elected? In some cases they are owned by multi millionaires who don’t pay tax in the UK – say the Sun, Times and Sky News. In most cases they positively back the Conservative Party – say the Mail and Express. In no cases are the owners elected and neither are the editors. So they are what are known as vested interests.
Now lets ask the same questions about trade unions. Who owns them and are their leaders elected? They are owned by members and yes their leaders are elected. Do they pay tax in the UK well yes. In some cases they back the Labour party but most are independant – look at PCS for instance. Oh and how many people are in them – 7 million. The largest membership organisation in the UK with the highest number of volunteers as local reps.
All this means to me that Trade Unions are more able to speak up for people in the UK than others and if members feel something is wrong they will be in the majority. Trade Union members and their famililies and friends know what the impact of the Cuts will be – we work and depand upond these services – no tax exiles amongst us! So people shouldn’t feel cowed we are the majority!
Tony Conway
PCS NEC Member
