I'm rushing to Kevin's defence here. Trade unions have been the only corrective to the more vicious workplace tendencies (of which there are many) of capitalism. If you work in any industry or other enterprise in which, down the decades, trade unions have fought for better pay and conditions and protected the interests of the workers in other ways, you need to remember that they have done it for you whether you paid your dues or not. The reason unions can't do these things very well any more is because there have been serial moves to shackle them more and more by right-wing governments. Workplace security has been deliberately made a thing of the past, with no guaranteed working hours, no security of tenure, no consideration given to work-life balance, the minimum wage becoming de rigeur with no means of negotiating it up and semi-permanent caps on pay rises. You all know people who have suffered under the rules of this brave new world, don't you. Unless you know only bankers and boardroom men, of course.

A couple of other things, concerning union ballots and leadership elections. I've been a member of the NUT for forty years, many of which I spent as a school representative, helping to train new reps and serving on local and London NUT committees. In that time I successfully represented people at tribunals who had been threatened with disciplinary action, campaigned against asbestos in schools, helped to fight workplace bullying of the worst kind in one particular school and fought for compensation for a teacher involved in an accident. Yes I also got involved in industrial action fighting against compulsory redeployment and education cuts, as well as threats to pay and pensions. Some you wins and some you loses. Not once did I ever go on strike and receive strike pay from the Union. We were called out in the mid 80s on one occasion when my wife was at home with our two little kids and striking was just about the hardest thing to do. Those people who denigrate strikers as a kneejerk at every turn - well just think what state working people would be in today without workers taking action. Anyone remember Bradley Hardacre?

Most people who join unions will never strike. Unions are about looking after members, not itching to go on strike. Looking after members is the backbone of union work and is in the background. It doesn't really get people fired emotionally, certainly not enough to care much who the leader is. So 15% turnout for the Unite election. So what? That's none of your business. Any union member who doesn't like it can simply walk away. Unite membership was on the rise last time I heard. As for strike ballots, legislation makes it as difficult and expensive as possible. Ballot papers have to be posted out then posted back. We all get so much bloody junk mail that the government hopes we'll think the brown envelope is just more of that. Online ballots would see turnout rocket, but that is not what the government wants, is it. Why would they let us remove one of the sticks they can beat us with?