History Repeating Itself
The annual TUC conference gets underway today.
After 13 years of tiptoeing around a Labour government - the unions are having to accustom themselves to a new coalition government - comprised of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
So in a bid to win new friends and influence the government's agenda - TUC bosses did the sensible thing and invited Vince Cable - the new Business Secretary - to address the delegates.
But all of a sudden the TUC got cold feet and cancelled the invitation - must have been a backlash from individual union general secretaries - who effectively tell the TUC what to do.
Had Vince Cable spoken at the TUC - it would have been the first time union delegates had listened there to any Cabinet minister other than a Labour one.
Shock horror - some of the brothers must have broken out in a rash.
Now this all brought back memories of the 1980's when the STUC general secretary - Campbell Christie - invited Alex Salmond the SNP leader to address their annual conference.
Again union bosses (regional secretaries) got their knickers in a terrible twist - at the prospect of the SNP poisoning the minds of their delegates - so they forced the STUC to withdraw the invitation.
How ridiculous and childish this all looks now - with Alex Salmond acting as First Minister - and the SNP forming a minority government in Scotland.
As ever, the tribal loyalties of union bosses - are out of step with the views of ordinary union members.
After 13 years of tiptoeing around a Labour government - the unions are having to accustom themselves to a new coalition government - comprised of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
So in a bid to win new friends and influence the government's agenda - TUC bosses did the sensible thing and invited Vince Cable - the new Business Secretary - to address the delegates.
But all of a sudden the TUC got cold feet and cancelled the invitation - must have been a backlash from individual union general secretaries - who effectively tell the TUC what to do.
Had Vince Cable spoken at the TUC - it would have been the first time union delegates had listened there to any Cabinet minister other than a Labour one.
Shock horror - some of the brothers must have broken out in a rash.
Now this all brought back memories of the 1980's when the STUC general secretary - Campbell Christie - invited Alex Salmond the SNP leader to address their annual conference.
Again union bosses (regional secretaries) got their knickers in a terrible twist - at the prospect of the SNP poisoning the minds of their delegates - so they forced the STUC to withdraw the invitation.
How ridiculous and childish this all looks now - with Alex Salmond acting as First Minister - and the SNP forming a minority government in Scotland.
As ever, the tribal loyalties of union bosses - are out of step with the views of ordinary union members.
