When I was working in London a few years ago, I noticed that the union reps and some shop stewards were having private meetings with management before important union meetings. They always pushed for a compromise with management.

My suspicion is that management considered what they wanted, took an even harder position and let the union leaders talk them back into accepting what they wanted all along.

"The game is rigged folks, they gotcha by the balls!" -- George Carlin

Unions are only a mechanism for intergrating the workers into capitalism. That is why the silence.

Union members and branches (particularly UCU ones) have been supporting the students but you are right the unions have been rubbish. It shows what a low, low state the British union movement has fallen too. All they have planned is a march in March 2011. Pathetic. The TUC and union leaders are part of the problem.

I'm no fan of the mainstream media but this is a handy little guide that explains how workers have to go about organising a Trade Union strike or walkout now -  http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/oct/09/strike-unions-walkout

* Joining a union

* Is your industrial action justifiable?

* The ballot

* Going on strike

* Picketing

What it doesn't cover is how workers often withdraw their labour regardless of government legislation.


For anyone involved in the student demonstrations who wants to make contact with other union members in conflict I suggest talking to anyone you can, checking your local media for strikes and industrial action, and get yourself along to show your solidarity with them. Don't worry about what to say, try a simple "hello I don't know what to say but I wanted to let you know I support you"