A Democratic & Labour Liability?
Much to the Government's alarm, the largest UK trade union has given a unanimous 'no' to the final offer, relating to the public sector pension dispute and their NHS members. There is a lot of concern from union members at the coal face that their leaders are going to sell out, but this decision is going to put pressure on the leader's considering this option, to think again.
Of course, the political leader most concerned with this decision will be Labour's Ed Miliband. He has already criticised trade unions for fighting for the future of their pensions, even though the likes of the GMB, UNITE and UNISON are his party's biggest funders and the deciding factor that delivered his leadership victory. There has been a general feeling that he had escaped any immediate threat to his leadership, as it is hard for any leader to make an impression, with no message to sell. However, a continuation of an increasingly bitter pension dispute will force 'Red Ed' to take a harder anti-union line.
So, there will be panic stations in Labour HQ because of this decision, particularly when there is also talk of the GMB and UNITE taking on private sector employers relating to pensions. I may not be a Labour supporter, but I am very concerned when the main opposition to the Tories in London are currently no opposition at all. If 'Red Ed' continues to be a liability not only to UK Labour but also UK Parliamentary democracy, then for the sake of everyone, he needs to go and go swiftly.
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