Media bid to divide union members

FOR some time I have been aware of the danger of trade union leaders’ salaries getting so far ahead of the members that they could become a stick with which to beat the whole movement.

In recent weeks the mass media has taken the opportunity to use the salary of some union leaders to attack the trade union movement in the hope of dividing and demoralising the membership.

For the first time in decades, trade unions have adopted a position of independence from government and employers, and are providing the leadership required at this crucial time when workers face a massive assault on their wages and conditions by their employers and the state.