union leader ward squad openly reject social partnership and the class collaboration it represents.
It this year's TUC congress, the for the first time in over a decade. The election of the awkward squad reflects not only a need for more militant trade unionism but a growing rejection of Blairism itself. There are of course differing degrees of awkwardness.
Prentis (UNISON) and Edmunds (GMB) are not members of the awkward. squad", but they are more awkward than (the political fund conference and a series of fringe meetings at this year's trade union conferences) shows there is a natural connection between regenerating the unions and building a broad political alternative to Blairism.
The left has to become more organised in the unions. Where there are existing left formations, the Socialist Alliance will work to build them. Elsewhere, it will co-ordinate its members and supporters and seek to establish broader left formations.
Increasingly the public sector unions are co-ordinating their actions and working together.
In London there is a public sector alliance; in Newcastle there is a joint demonstration. Meanwhile, the movement has to be organised behind the fire fighters. We are not the only ones to see the importance this struggle represents to the whole of the movement. Blair is organising to smash it and we have to ensure he is not successful.
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John Bulaitis