Collaboration has failed us utterly. It's time to fight back

The EU is the only issue where union policy is wildly out of step with the experience and wisdom of working people and the bulk of union members.

Yet sovereignty is the key issue if we are to convince people of the need to campaign for a plan to rebuild Britain anew.

Recent general secretaries of the TUC have succumbed to every loss of decision-making power over industry strategy, fiscal policy and public services on the grounds that we would receive social partnership in return.

What we got instead was austerity, deregulation, anti-worker laws, record unemployment, unelected governors in Greece and Italy and a new military scramble for Africa.

Brian is right to ask when we are going to wake up and adopt a strategy based on principles rather than opportunism. Or will we continue to muddle along while the struggle against the EU is hijacked by the right?

The idea that in 2017 our TUC might make common cause with the Establishment as the people struggle to survive is something that should seriously concern everyone.

Before Frances O'Grady follows the disastrous path of her predecessors I would ask her to arrange for the TUC to conduct a referendum of union members on supporting the EU.

I suspect that the answer received, if acted on, would go a long way to restoring union credibility.

Phil Katz

Great Cambourne