I have followed the debate about exploitation in progressive organisations with interest. I think perhaps this also has a parallel with economics - that is, "labour" in government (certainly in recent times) have pursued economically rationalist policies, when in opposition they try to define themselves as offering something "different". So how do we stop unionists behaving like bosses when they become employers and how do we stop "labour" governments implementing economic rationalism? The million dollar question - perhaps the answer lies in the lack of alternative vision? Are there any realistic role models? In a recent casual discussion between union officials around the topic of "unions being bad employers" one bright spark made the comment that "if we can't organise and campaign on behalf of ourselves........... The silence that followed was murky indeed! Cheers, Margarita
