POA motion actually passed with mass support

In one way your subtitle "POA wins narrow support from unions" was accurate. The TUC motion from the POA to investigate the practicalities of a general strike was "narrowly" carried. But, and it's a damned big but, that was the perceived vote on a show of hands. I know, I was a delegate.

It was very positive that there wasn't block vote because that means the entire collective of all TUC affiliated unions is bound by that decision and have no excuse to walk away from the decision (yes, we are all in this one together).

However, the record must be put straight. Delegates representing in excess of 4.5 million of the six million membership voted in favour of the motion which the general council was supporting, so the vote was not so narrow after all.

The debate on why membership was double what it was in the "bad old days" of the '70s is one for another day. But decisive co-ordinated action now on the broadest possible front to defend jobs, services, pensions and union rights will only grow our unions for - to coin the current slogan - "a future that works."

Anita Halhin
London E3