Michael Dughers exaggerated claim that Miliband`s recent trade union
reforms will "strengthen Labour`s relationship with ordinary working people" is
sadly wide of the mark, for fairly obvious reasons.(Guardian,Comment,07/02/14)
Whilst risking the loss of millions in funding, Labour offers union members
little in the way of compensation for loss of potential influence. Why no pledge
to legislate on representation of workers on boards of directors? Such a policy
of co-determination was good enough for West Germany in the 1950s, but not, it
seems, for Britain in 2015, even though it proved effective in curbing German
employers` excessive pay. If Labour is serious in wooing back disaffected
supporters, and stopping them being poached by Ukip, this was an obvious
method.
Equally, many workers will not have seen ties with Labour strengthened
in recent years if they have been on strike. Sadly, Labour`s policy of
denouncing all strikes suggests workers are always wrong when taking such
action. Really? Even when employers cut pay and pensions, and refuse to talk, or
cut jobs when bosses take home millions for their "efficiency" policies? Are
workers wrong to take industrial action when faced with the arrogance of Gove or
Johnson?
If Labour is not the party defending basic workers` rights, and attacking
inequality and unfairness, what is its raison d`etre? Why did Miliband and the
others enter politics with the Labour party if they did not expect to defend the
working class from the exploitation of capitalists, the NHS from privatisation,
the welfare state from the Tories? Announcing a few populist policies here and
there is not sufficient, when there is a whole society out there begging to be
changed!
Bernie Evans
4a Garth Drive
Liverpool
01517246087
07933538657
Michael Dughers exaggerated claim that Miliband`s recent trade union reforms will "strengthen Labour`s relationship with ordinary working people" is sadly wide of the mark, for fairly obvious reasons. Whilst risking the loss of millions in funding, Labour offers union members little in the way of compensation for loss of potential influence. Why no pledge to legislate on representation of workers on boards of directors? Such a policy of co-determination was good enough for West Germany in the 1950s, but not, it seems, for Britain in 2015, even though it proved effective in curbing German employers` excessive pay. If Labour is serious in wooing back disaffected supporters, and stopping them being poached by Ukip, this was an obvious method.
Equally, many workers will not have seen ties with Labour strengthened in recent years if they have been on strike. Sadly, Labour`s policy of denouncing all strikes suggests workers are always wrong when taking such action. Really? Even when employers cut pay and pensions, and refuse to talk, or cut jobs when bosses take home millions for their "efficiency" policies? Are workers wrong to take industrial action when faced with the arrogance of Gove or Johnson?
If Labour is not the party defending basic workers` rights, and attacking inequality and unfairness, what is its raison d`etre? Why did Miliband and the others enter politics with the Labour party if they did not expect to defend the working class from the exploitation of capitalists, the NHS from privatisation, the welfare state from the Tories? Announcing a few populist policies here and there is not sufficient, when there is a whole society out there begging to be changed!
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