Now -read the book!

Here is a link to my memoirs which, if you are a glutton for punishment, you can purchase online at https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/an-obscure-footnote-in-trade-union-history.
Men fight and lose the battle, and the thing that they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat, and when it comes turns out not to be what they meant, and other men have to fight for what they meant under another name. (William Morris - A Dream of John Ball)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Too hot in the kitchen?

I have taken the unusual step of deleting a blog post, having been asked to do so by a UNISON colleague.

It is never my intention to cause personal offence with posts on this blog.

It is my intention to make robust - sometimes even rude - political criticism.

If you don't like it, don't read it.

I make no secret of my view that our movement is often let down by its leadership. If individuals who are part of that leadership don't like to hear that view expressed they need to grow tougher skin.

It does not bring UNISON into disrepute for our disagreements to be aired in public. On the contrary it is the hallmark of a democratic member-led trade union that we should be proud of robust debate.

I have read criticisms of myself online (some of them even unjustified) which have far exceeded anything I may say here. I think that is pretty much the price of being outspoken.

Anyone who had trouble coping with occasionally intemperate online criticism would certainly struggle to confront the ConDems...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too right mate! Not like the John Grays of this world (aka anonymous) who loves posting his own comments (under anonymous) pretending to be someone else, boring or what? :-)

Anonymous said...

too hot in the kitchen!! ? Are you quite mad or do you not relise or understand what gender bullying actually is ?

blogged has been copied and saved I'm going back to the kitchen to toughen up some more!

Anonymous said...

what did you say?

Anonymous said...

Quoting a last century, white male president who set off a bomb doesn't show you have moved forward much into this century as a union or person but as this is your last century wave length another interesting Truman Quote..."It's plain hokum. If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em. It's an old political trick. But this time it won't work. "
It is me , ( well this time anyway )but of course you may have thought I wouldn't possibly have the "balls" or have the ability to see who passed a loaded gun for someone else to fire? What a way to end national anti- bullying week ! Guess you missed that on your union blog last week or am I stereotyping old bully boy unions again?

Anonymous said...

Ah Jon Gray then? He is a fool, he is known for posting anonymous comments on his below standard blog then has a debate with himself if you see what I mean. He is well known in the Council as Cllr anonymous. Sad.

Anonymosity