Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Don't bank on succeeding Blair, unions tell Brown

Barrie Clement,Ben Russell
Sunday 11 September 2005 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The "big four" union leaders told the Chancellor that he should not expect a "coronation" as Labour leader. Previously, he had attracted the public support of union leaders, whose organisations command a third of the votes in the electoral college selecting Mr Blair's successor.

However, at a series of working dinners, the main union players drew up a shopping list of issues on which they will be demanding compromises from the Chancellor. They plan to buttonhole Mr Brown before he makes his speech to the annual TUC conference in Brighton tomorrow.

The Government faces a wave of unrest from union leaders, with crippling industrial action threatened over public sector pensions and civil service job losses. The Labour leadership also faces an embarrassing row over union laws, with the giant Transport and General Workers' Union pressing ahead with a party conference attempt to reinstate secondary "solidarity action" in the wake of the Gate Gourmet dispute.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in