If we are to
engage in a proper debate on
Labour's future then Hazel
Blears' plea to respect our
"lineage and traditions" can
only shackle fresh thinking.
When she says "our union
links are not up for grabs"
she distorts modern-day
reality. Of the 62 unions
affiliated to the TUC only
18 are affiliated to Labour.
Of these, Amicus and the
TGWU are now about to merge
to form a single
super-union, with 2 million
members, representing almost
one-third of the total
unionised workforce (and the
lion's share of the
Labour-affiliated members).
Moreover, the leaders of
Amicus and the TGWU, in
their support of John
Cruddas, are now seeking to
reverse some of the main
reforms in the party
manifesto.
Union enlargement will hopefully bring considerable practical benefits to the members; but the successful amalgamation of workers with varying skills and backgrounds also means a super-union will surely have to adopt a less partisan political approach, reflecting the wider membership
Mike Allott
Eastleigh, Hampshire