Unions should break the link
They exist to help the workers, not Labour
Sonia Sodha
Twelve per cent—that was the dismal turnout in the recent contest to elect the general secretary of Unite. Hence Len McCluskey claimed victory having persuaded fewer than one in 18 members to vote for him. It’s yet another symptom of apathy and malaise in a trade union movement afflicted by a longstanding decline in membership.
Why should we care? Deepening insecurity and sluggish wage growth are affecting the post-crash labour market. Precarious low-paid work—unreliable self-employment, agency working and zero-hours contracts—affects one in ten workers. Employers often face few consequences: enforcement of minimum wage and employment legislation has been under-resourced; workers have been expected to enforce their own rights through employment tribunals where new fees apply.