David Redshaw certainly does not speak for everybody when he says “no one would want a return to the union militancy of the 1970s” (Letters, 7 February).
I, for one, would welcome a return to a time in the UK, not that long ago, when there were no homeless people on the streets, housing was affordable and accessible, social workers were able to do actual social work in the community, beds were available in hospitals (for both physical and mental illnesses), teaching was an enjoyable occupation in well-maintained schools, there were enough nurses, doctors and police officers, and social security meant that there was little or no shame in needing to be supported by benefits.
All this and more was then supported by a unionised workforce, earning decent wages and paying taxes into the system that benefited us all. This was the 1970s, when the unions were strong, and people had rights, as opposed to today’s insecurity, poverty and waiting lists for essential services, as our taxes pour into the pockets of obscenely rich company heads.
Sushila Dhall
Oxford
• David Redshaw is wrong to assume that no one wants a return to union militancy. Does he imagine that bosses have turned a new leaf and are eager to share their profits?
I like to think that I contributed to the militancy of the 70s and the pay rises it won. For working people, the only real power they have is to withdraw their labour (the alternative being to put a cross against a name they did not choose, every five years).
Today, thanks to Margaret Thatcher and the failure of Tony Blair, striking requires jumping through endless “legal” hoops. As a result, we have seen a catastrophic decline in the value of wages. I yearn for the days when walking out the door was free of all sanctions.
A future Labour government should take the handcuffs off the trade union movement (a fantasy, I admit, under the current leadership). Until that happens, the decline in wages and the increase in poverty will continue.
Bill Geddes
(Scottish Bakers Union, English Bakers Union, NUPE, UCAAT, CPSA, NALGO, Unison)
Worthing, West Sussex
