Strange Coincidences
A regular reader has been in touch about the piece I wrote on COSLA the other day - see post dated 16 April 2011: 'COSLA isn't working anymore'
"Is that the same COSLA, where Joe Di Paola went to work?", the readers asks.
Yes it is - the one and same.
Joe was my old deputy at Unison - and took over when I left as Head of Local Government in Scotland in 1999 - although for some reason he was never allowed to use that job title.
But after a while - five or six years, I think - Joe transferred his allegiance from the trade union side of the bargaining table - to the employers.
One day Joe was speaking for Unison and the joint trade unions - on pay and other issues - the next he was wearing a COSLA hat and representing the views of the Scottish council employers.
Nothing wrong in that, you might say - and you'd be quite right - it's free world and people are entitled to decide where they want to work - even if it did raise a few eyebrows at the time.
Joe is - or at least was - a big Labour party supporter.
Nothing wrong in that either - but almost all senior union officials are Labour party members and supporters - and that's where things have to change.
Because the trade unions' pro-Labour stance in Scotland - does not reflect the the views of ordinary, grassroots union members.
Which brings me to the STUC - an organisation I was involved in for many years.
Once upon a time, the STUC got its knickers in a terrible twist over an invitation that the then General Secretary, Campbelll Christie - issued to the then SNP leader, one Alex Salmond - to address the annual congress.
But the pro-Labour union leaders on the STUC's general council - which ran the whole show - were so furious that they insisted the invitation be withdrawn - and forced Campbell Christie - an independent-minded fellow- to bow to their will.
How times have changed - with an SNP First Minister - whom union bosses need to deal with and respect - in public at least.
And would you believe that one of Joe Di Paola's big pals is - or at least was - Grahame Smith, the current General Secretary of the STUC.
And Grahame, of course, is - or at least was - a big Labour party supporter as well.
Now that's what I call a coincidence.
"Is that the same COSLA, where Joe Di Paola went to work?", the readers asks.
Yes it is - the one and same.
Joe was my old deputy at Unison - and took over when I left as Head of Local Government in Scotland in 1999 - although for some reason he was never allowed to use that job title.
But after a while - five or six years, I think - Joe transferred his allegiance from the trade union side of the bargaining table - to the employers.
One day Joe was speaking for Unison and the joint trade unions - on pay and other issues - the next he was wearing a COSLA hat and representing the views of the Scottish council employers.
Nothing wrong in that, you might say - and you'd be quite right - it's free world and people are entitled to decide where they want to work - even if it did raise a few eyebrows at the time.
Joe is - or at least was - a big Labour party supporter.
Nothing wrong in that either - but almost all senior union officials are Labour party members and supporters - and that's where things have to change.
Because the trade unions' pro-Labour stance in Scotland - does not reflect the the views of ordinary, grassroots union members.
Which brings me to the STUC - an organisation I was involved in for many years.
Once upon a time, the STUC got its knickers in a terrible twist over an invitation that the then General Secretary, Campbelll Christie - issued to the then SNP leader, one Alex Salmond - to address the annual congress.
But the pro-Labour union leaders on the STUC's general council - which ran the whole show - were so furious that they insisted the invitation be withdrawn - and forced Campbell Christie - an independent-minded fellow- to bow to their will.
How times have changed - with an SNP First Minister - whom union bosses need to deal with and respect - in public at least.
And would you believe that one of Joe Di Paola's big pals is - or at least was - Grahame Smith, the current General Secretary of the STUC.
And Grahame, of course, is - or at least was - a big Labour party supporter as well.
Now that's what I call a coincidence.
