In UNISON we are used to the ultra left stepping up to the mark as attack dogs on the democratic right of individual union members to pay a political levy to the Labour Party. Regardless of the fact that labour affiliation is a longstanding political tradition of affiliated unions and repeatedly endorsed in political fund ballots when left and right opponents of the Labour link recommended a ‘no’ vote.
In doing so they aid and abet the ultimate aim of the Tory Party (and the Labour right misnamed as ‘modernisers’) to break the union Labour link and weaken Labour as a national political organisation. Affiliated unions have opposed the excesses of privatisation and war practised by New Labour. Without doubt individually and collectively unions could have been more effective during Labour’s 13 years in power. To what extent that can ad should be addressed is the subject of democratic review in the case of UNISON at least.
Now the Scottish National Party is getting in on the act. What a tragedy that a party which has advocated progressive employment and social policies in areas such as the NHS in Scotland is mounting organised interference into the internal business of trade unions. The rights of trade union members including political choices should be exercised democratically within unions free of interference by political parties or the state.
http://www.snp.org/node/13531
