Letters | 16 July 2015

Unions led astray

Sir: Leo McKinstry’s article on the current problems in the trade unions (‘Counter-strike’, 11 July) brings back unhappy memories of the last time a similar situation arose. This was probably best known for Arthur Scargill’s attempt to use his position as head of the NUM for his own self-aggrandisment. I lived through that era and remember it well. I knew union members who were frightened of their ‘leaders’, a situation the founders of the trade union movement would have found incredible.

In 1974 I attempted to transfer my union membership to a new location. Two representatives of the local branch came to see me, and were all smiles until I mentioned I wanted to opt out of the political levy. The smiles disappeared and I found myself unable to transfer my membership. All highly illegal, but this didn’t bother them. A few months later, when I could have done with the backing that union membership would have given me, I suffered the consequences and had to change my career plans.