Richard Balfe: We should not demonise the public sector unions, but continue negotiating with them in good faith

Richard Balfe is the Conservative Party Envoy to the Trades Union Movement.

We are entering the crucial phase of our negotiation with the Unions over the future of public sector pensions.

A year ago at election time there was a very real fear in Trade Union circles that the incoming Government would seek a confrontation on this issue and seek to end the defined benefit system.

In fact we, and in this case it was very much a Conservative initiative, sought to defuse the issue and appointed former Labour Secretary of State, John Hutton, to advise on the matter. It is his recommendations that are at the root of the present negotiations.

The need for retirement ages to increase along with contribution levels is the only way of paying for pensions without leaving an unacceptable bill to be picked up by the taxpayer.

Richard Balfe: We must give trade unions a chance to be part of the solution rather than typecast them as part of the problem

Richard Balfe is a former Labour MEP who joined the Conservatives in 2002;  in 2008 he was appointed to liase on behalf of David Cameron with Britain's trade unions. Here he reflects on what observed at the TUC conference Liverpool.

Yesterday afternoon, as Gordon Brown rose to address Congress, quite a few people wondered when would be the next time that the TUC President introduced "The Prime Minister" and who that might be. Yes - it is not beyond possibility that at this time next year David Cameron could become the first Conservative Prime Minister to address the TUC.

It would be fair to say that the political atmosphere is subdued, although it should be remembered that not all TU delegates are Labour and fewer than half of the Unions are affiliated to the Labour Party. Nonetheless, the TUC has always been thought of as a Labour heartland. In many ways it still is, but it is also a very practical place with most debates about workplace issues not political theory.

There are votes but never any close ones: all the problems are ironed out before the debate begins and even if there are difficulties they will normally be resolved by having two composite resolutions on the same
topic: both will then be passed with delegates mainly abstaining rather than voting against the one they do not like.

Occassionally the politics comes to the fore but in rather quiet ways. As Congress ended last night, the results of the election to the General Council were read out. Notably Bob Crow, scourge of the commuting public, was not elected to the TUC governing Council. However in the tradition of the best Clubs, his vote was not read out and only the winners had their totals announced. He was just "not elected".

Richard Balfe: Trades Unions and Conservatives

Richard Balfe is a former MEP appointed to liase with Britain's unions.

Around one third of Trade Union members support the Conservative Party and many of the core values of the two organisations are similar.

One day soon there is going to be a Conservative Government. That’s the way things happen in democracies. This incoming Government and the Unions, particularly in the public sector, need to get to know each other and appreciate our differences whilst at the same time recognising our joint desire to build an economically sound and strong Britain with first class public services.

The Trades Unions are built on voluntarism. Members choose to join for the benefits they obtain. There is very clear need for many working people to seek the sensible protection a Union can give.

The reality of day to day work in the average Union is helping members. In my own Union Amicus/Unite the range of services provided including first class legal advice, car and other insurance and other benefits are invaluable.