Just what is it that makes the Tories hate unions so much? Is it fear or just contempt? At the end of the 80's more than 12 million workers were members of a trade union. Today, there are less than 6million, with a decline of half a million in the last four years. The TUC says this is due to a fall in employment. I suggest it is deeper than that.
Unions have become a dirty word.
 David Cameron uses the accusation of "been in the pockets of the union", as though it is drug dealers money. Membership is synonymous with corruption. Union leaders like Len Mcluskey and Bob Crow are ridiculed and abused. But do they help themselves? No!
The trade unions of the 70's and 80's are extinct. It is no longer acceptable to down tools and drag everyone out at the drop of a hat. People these days expect services to continue regardless of the treatment of staff. People don't accept bad working conditions poor pay and pensions being raped under the disguise of fairness as an excuse to not having buses running.
We have become so pampered and selfish that we begrudge any one workers having better pay. We seek to look out for number one and sod every one else.
This just plays into the hands of business leaders and government and does nothing for workers.
Thatchers Tories stripped the unions of the real power that they formerly enjoyed, and Francis Maude wants to take away the time off allowed to union reps. The rights of workers need defending, The benefits to workers, both members and none members is immeasurable. Earlier this year, a report commissioned by the government suggested that no fault dismissal would help the economy. Its a blatant lie. It would benefit only the bullies and manipulative managers, increase harassment and stress and possibly cost the economy. 
The Mccluskeys and Crows shouting about coordinated strikes not only puts people off joining unions it weakens the threat.
I have written before about why i believe in unions. I have said that good unions would benefit not just workers but business as well. Unions need a makeover, They are in drastic need of reinvention or face extinction.
 Young workers, the few that are lucky enough to be employed, do not understand unions. They take for granted the many rights that the trade unions have fought for for decades such as equality or paid holidays.
The impact of the unions has saved many jobs for example the car builders in the North east. the union was influential in getting an agreement that saved the plant, benefiting not just the staff, and the employer but the whole area.
A good union rep can be a useful tool to managers and businesses, if the reps can be trusted to  not just be a trouble causer.
Reps working in the interest of employers and the employee can save huge amounts of money wasted on litigation and tribunals. I believe it is the responsibility of all elected union representatives to make members aware of their responsibilities as well as their rights.
 I don't want to be part of a union that sacrifices longevity of jobs for an extra couple of hundred pounds for a handful of workers. I want a union that protects jobs whilst maintaining fairness and decency. The only way unions can have any influence of course is by recruiting supporters and increasing membership and that means a more responsible approach is needed.  
Its not just the Tories that are to blame for the demise. 14 years of labour government did nothing to strengthen the role of trade unions. Why do we not  teach trade unionism in school? Historically, the contribution the unions have made to this country is worthy of mention in the curriculum. I'm not talking propaganda, just awareness. Unions should be the link between employer and employee, not the barrier.
The millions of pounds of members money spent funding union bosses salaries could be used more usefully promoting the benefits of unions. Strike action should always be a last resort. There are many ways to demonstrate, all of which should be exhausted before strike action but it is vital that we retain the right to withdraw our labour.
Some eloquent tweeter said today that we need unity not Unite. I disagree.
Unite have recently introduced community membership. This could be a fantastic way to engage people and provide a voice for millions of people who are not currently represented by the media or politicians. As the vast majority of politicians have business interests of their own, or have owned bussinesses before entering politics, is it any wonder that there is a biased against the union?
Rotherham MP Dennis MacShane recently suggested a quota of working class MPs. This is never going to happen due to the cost in both time and money. Joining a responsible union could give the same representation. Union leaders like Len Mccluskey need to stop attacking business and threatening industrial action and come up with ways to fairly protect the rights of workers while ensuring they have work to protect.