The further right-wing drift and capitulation of Mister Ed

So Mister Ed is on a collision course with the unions. The very unions that got this man the top job. Is there anyone out there who still has illusions with him? He’s dumped his main supporters as quickly as he dumped using the word, “comrades”. What I find so objectionable, so making-my-blood- pressure-rise is that Mister Ed is capitulating to the establishment ‘cos like he, you know, doesn’t want to give the establishment the misunderstanding that he is close to the trade unions. He got what he wanted i.e. votes and prestige from union bureaucracy telling rank and file members to vote for the least worst option. So now he wants to distance himself like a selfish witless jellyfish (apologies to jellyfish) but the sting is primarily aimed at the class he’s supposed to defend the interests of.

And now how does he repay them.. by shafting his own supporters. It’s very telling that from the past week from demonising people on benefits to curtailing the union influence in the Labour Party should fundamentally tell people in no uncertain terms that his loyalty is not with ordinary people but with the establishment. He has nailed his colours quite firmly there but actually his anyone really surprised…? Since he was elected leader he has been silent now the quiet man has spoken and he speaks the language of the right.

Does someone need to give Mister Ed a quick history lesson about the founding of the Labour Party and where it came from? Maybe someone should shout into his shell-like and say something regarding that you wouldn’t have a Labour Party without the trade unions. It’s part of the labour movement and it’s part of the working class, the very class Mister Ed should be fighting for not against. Class interests? Yeah, but not the class I’m thinking of. While Mister Ed talks transparency and accountability at the same time he says he will choose the shadow cabinet not the PLP. Some democracy!

While ConDems think up cunning and vicious plans to shaft the trade unions from going on strike Mister Ed thinks going on strike on Thursday is bad news.

Oh, and the proposals from the ConDems are nasty. Haven’t we already got some of the worst anti-trade union legislation in Europe? If we hadn’t got the message already these new big ideas drive the final nail with force into workers’ rights and withdrawing your labour. I sincerely hope that the union bureaucracy doesn’t sit on its laurels waiting for the big handshake and the gong in the post for being a sell-out BUT actually defends the interests of workers’…?

Ministers are examining plans to make it impossible to strike unless at least 40% of members support action – rather than allowing them to be triggered by a simple majority of those who vote. They are also looking at banning public sector workers from being employed as full-time union reps at public expense and at imposing a legal duty on unions to ensure a minimum level of service in the event of a strike.

I like the 40% of members support action or else it renders it impossible to strike, it’s hilarious, considering the fact Tories only got 36% of the vote at the last election and couldn’t form a government without the LibDems, and again they are pushing through proposals without a mandate. Says it all. At the same time Mister Ed wants to amend the union block vote further distancing the party from its origins.

And to all those right-wing populist newspapers, columnists, and politicians. Workers have a right to strike, to down their tools and withhold their labour. That is the power workers’ have and we should support that. The establishment moans about strikes, loss of production and so on. We are constantly reminded about how “selfish” trade unionists are for striking but not once do we hear of the selfish boss, selfish tax thief living it up in Cayman Island or grasping and greedy bankers eyeing up another bail-out. But no, ordinary people who are trying to fight back against attacks on their livelihoods are condemned.

Solidarity to workers on strike on the 30th. I will show my own support by visiting picket lines and ask comrades to do the same. Unity is strength. Unity is something the ruling class knows very little about.

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