Pat Rabbitte must choose between union muscle and the public good

TONY BLAIR is having trouble again this week with the British trade union movement. Addressing the TUC annual conference he essentially told them that the left-wing government they are looking for to replace his moderate New Labour one just wasn’t going to happen.

He argued that the trade unions should get over themselves and stop being a "roadblock" to the social and economic progress which he argued his government is achieving.

The Irish Labour party is also about to have its defining moment with some elements of the trade union movement in this country.