New TUC leader must take on Con-Dem austerity

To do this it cannot fight against government cuts and simultaneously accept similar austerity cuts from the EU - it must oppose both.

Also, it requires a united trade union leadership of people committed to the movement and determined to pursue a progressive policy such as the People's Charter.

Unfortunately, this is not so at present.

For example, take the case of general secretary of the TUC Brendan Barber (right), who is also a director of the Bank of England.

How can he on the one hand head the TUC, which is against the austerity cuts and on the other hand sit as a director on the Bank of England, which is helping to carry out government austerity policy?

If the TUC pays Brendan Barber so little he has to get a second job perhaps he could try Tesco instead of the Bank of England.

To put matters bluntly, what he doing is class collaboration, ie EU social partnership, which is holding back the movement against government attacks and must be ended.

Barber has said he will retire from the TUC this year and remains a director of the Bank of England until May 31 2012.

The new general secretary of the TUC should be elected by all trade unionists.

This would make the trade unions more democratic, help non-active trade unionists feel part of the decision-making process and deepen the unity of the movement.

This could be augmented by electing a new general secretary, male or female, with proven leadership qualities and committed to the labour movement.

Ron Dorman
Birmingham