Michael Meacher MP

Astonishingly the near-insurgency conditions prevailing today in France aren’t just because Sarkozy intends to raise the retirement age to 62, but mainly because his proposals to reform the social contract are being imposed without consultation – in practice, without negotiation with the unions.    The trade unions are seen in France as the bulwark and defender of citizens’ social rights as well as protector of the interests of their members within a capitalist system.   Who performs that role in the UK, especially since New Labour collaborated with the Conservative enemy in repressing the unions (never forget Blair’s boast that we have in the UK the most restrictive trade union legislation in the Western world)? (more…)