Letters: Unions dither as cost of living crisis hits millions

Unbelievably, the education union are delaying balloting (Photo: DanielKebedeNEU/X

Inflation is rising and all predictions are for a rapid jump in the autumn, as a result of Donald Trump’s war on Iran. 

Socialist Worker was absolutely right to call for a “Hot Autumn of Struggle”. 

Keir Starmer’s Labour government is weak and unpopular. 

If the trade union movement does not mount a serious fightback, the far right will scapegoat migrants further and seek to grow out of the severe social crisis.

That’s why the decisions of union leaders to dance around the balloting restrictions on calling action are unforgivable. 

Unison are only balloting branches with a chance—in their opinion—of getting a good vote. 

But they are leaving a huge chunk of union members out of the conversation—which is a recipe for division and confusion.

Unbelievably, the NEU education union national executive committee decided in May to delay a formal industrial action ballot for five months, until October. 

This is even after winning a massive majority in their initial indicative ballot. 

And the NEU ballot is scheduled to last for two months with no action planned until 2027. 

Instead of rallying the 200,000 plus NEU members who backed action to win over the entire membership, the NEU leadership are allowing the momentum to slip. 

They should be piling in behind the striking resident doctors and ramping up the pressure on Starmer and the Labour government right now.

Every trade unionist needs to demand the immediate removal of the 50 percent threshold rules for ballots. 

And the more militant, well‑organised union branches should be prepared to organise a fightback, despite the timidity of the union leaders. 

The stakes are high.

Simon Hester, Hastings

Whose lives matter?

When George Floyd was murdered by US police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020, Black Lives Matter (BLM) came onto the streets. 

It stood in solidarity with victims of police brutality.

BLM started to take to the streets of Britain as well. And athletes rightfully “took the knee” to show solidarity with BLM and Floyd.

In 2023, the Tories’ then-home secretary Priti Patel tried disgracefully to stop players from taking the knee. 

This pandered to racism, which in recent times has only gotten worse.

At the same time, racists and fascists have been spouting their hatred, led by Tommy Robinson.

On one of his demonstrations, a plane carried a banner reading, “White Lives Matter.” We all know that this is a racist code.

Earlier this year in Minnesota, in the US, Ice agents murdered both Renee Good and Alex Pretti. 

Both victims were white, which begs the question—where was “White Lives Matter” then?

The silence from the right was absolutely deafening.

Charlie Dowthwaite, Barrow-in-Furness

Samsung win shows where our power lies

The ratification of Samsung’s new bonus agreement is an important victory for organised labour in the technology industry, both in South Korea and globally.

For years, Samsung maintained a strong anti-union culture and resisted meaningful collective bargaining for its workers. That workers were able to secure a deal linking bonuses to company profits shows how much pressure collective action can exert.

For months, management resisted demands from workers who generate enormous wealth for the company. Only the credible threat of an 18-day strike involving tens of thousands of workers forced serious concessions. 

That alone demonstrates a basic truth too often ignored in discussions about AI and the sector—it is workers, not executives or shareholders, who make these companies function.

Samsung workers have shown even the biggest bosses can be forced to concede when workers organise.

Geraldine M, east London

Stand with trans+ lives 

While I suspect that our views on some issues are poles apart, I wholeheartedly commend Socialist Worker for its consistent and trenchant support of trans+ equality.

Yours is one of the few media outlets to resolutely oppose the demonisation of trans+ people. 

As a woman, I stand unreservedly with trans+ people. I consider trans+ women to be women and trans+ men to be men.

And I unreservedly believe in their right to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity.

Keeley Cavendish, south London