...but these people are no rats but the representatives of over 1.3 million predominantly public sector workers. Next Tuesday, much of UNISON's membership will strike in protest at proposed changes to the Local Government Pensions Scheme. UNISON Labour Link is the part of the organisation that gives money to the Labour party and organises campaigns to UNISON members to persuade them to vote Labour. It's not full of trots or entryists, but the more loyal Labour followers (you have to opt into it).

So, whilst unions have said this sort of thing in the past, and have in the process bought time and u-turns from the government, I thought it significant that UNISON Labour Link have said:

"In the circumstances of the union taking national industrial action
against the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, named as Regulator and
decision maker regarding the LGPS, in is felt that it is not appropriate
or politically sensible to be organising, on one hand, for industrial
action by the union while sending out letters and leaflets to many of the
same members asking them to vote Labour.

The decision has been taken to suspend our election campaigning work for
Labour in the May elections while the industrial action is going on.

Labour Link will not be giving any further donations or support to the
campaign until we reach a solution to the present LGPS issue.

This is a decision that affects our work for Labour's election campaign in
May nationally and locally."