Comments on: serwotka sellout sets seal on olympic exploitation

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:18:44 +0000

With his good understanding of Trade unionism and in his usual detailed and lucid style,Adam does not need to use a general stereotype of reformist leaders holding back militant workers in the piece. The workers had voted for a walk out/strike. The union had declared that they would defend this militancy in court. Instead, the left talking Trade union leader, Mark Serwotka announced that the court defence of the workers, who had mandated him to call a strike, would not now take place after all, and the strike was called off. Was there some dramatic last moment offer by the employers? No but there was the claim that- well there had been progress in negotiations, which was then promptly denied by a government minister, who made it clear the union leadership had backed down. Its not a matter of trust, but the nature of trade unions and the role of the trade union bureaucracy left and right. Pinning the label ultra left on a communist critic is a very shallow game.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:19:06 +0000

The broader points about the TUC and the Olympics are well made. But on the PCS issue I sympathise with Steve’s point. Even some of the most radical critics of the unions agree now that the stereotype of reformist leaders holding back militant workers is too simplistic and sometimes just doesnt fit. You need to know more about a dispute: what were the workers telling their reps? What were the reps telling the union leaders?

By: steve

steve — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:12:40 +0000

what a badly written article, Adam Ford suggests Serwotka sold out whilst at the same time claiming that a backdown by the governement and the recruitement of 800 workers in the current industrail climate would be a minor victory,,,,which it would and give workers fighting similair battles confidence to up the game….. I have no brief for union leaders especially, i am in PCS and if in fact the promise of jobs was just that, then there are question sto be asked, and no doubt strikes to be called

I do get sick of the ultra left habit of decrying everything with no anaylsis other than trust no one. Sometimes we win and the anaylsis should be how this can be built on, Try it,

By: Ollie S

Ollie S — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:26:27 +0000

Excellent piece. I still scratch my head as to why so much of the left suck up to the trade union movement