Hang ‘em and flog ‘em new MP Priti Patel has returned to her favourite theme of union-bashing in the Daily Telegraph today, attacking union representatives in the public sector for using facility time to oppose the cuts that would see their members’ jobs cut, wages frozen and pensions slashed (apparently that’s ’political’ activity, as opposed to rpresenting their members’ direct economic interests); as well as the money that DFID provides my department to combat poverty in developing countries. Her views are way out on the right of the Conservative Party – she was originally in charge of the press office at the Referendum Party - and don’t reflect the views of the coalition government. But they are still poisonous attempts to attack any commitment to social dialogue, fairness towards trade unions. Her views are strangely contradictory: as well as the fact that she thinks representing the interests of ordinary workers who belong to trade unions, her attacks on trade unions are precisely what is likely to convince unions to be tribally anti-Tory.

Posted on October 23rd, 2010 by Owen Tudor filed under: Rights at work, Union campaigns