UNISON's Dave Prentis is another bureaucrat who is not afraid to look totally ridiculous in sustaining his union's dogged financial support for Blairs band of privatisers.
The union's main political campaigns over the last two years have been against the Private Finance Initiative and against Foundation Hospitals. On both policies, UNISON has won the endorsement of Labour Party Conference.
Yet the union's Affiliated Political Fund has continued to campaign eagerly for a third Labour term in office, even while Blair's team stick up two fingers to union members and their own Party activists. The management of the Department and Work and Pensions (DWP) is attempting again to victimise a leading union activist in London on trumped up charges. After the last health and safety dispute they unsuccessfully tried to sack Chris Ford (a strike leader in North West London). Now they are seeking to sack Charlie McDonald, PCS London Regional Secretary for alleged picket line offences during the ongoing pay dispute.
From September 23 a ballot is taking place of all members in Stratford SSO (Charlie's office) for all out action. The union successfully defended Chris Ford when 800 local members went on strike. The dispute will be escalated further if management don't back down.
Speaking to Socialist Resistance, Charlie said "this is not just an attack on me, but union organisation as a whole. Such attacks are part of management's strategy to force through job and pay cuts in the DWP.
To support Charlie and the forthcoming strike send donations (and messages of support) to C. McDonald, Ground floor flat, 84 Orford Road, Walthamstow, E17 9QL. Please make cheques payable to 'DSS East London Branch hardship fund".