"Some of the municipal services that Maggie privatised were mind bogglingly inefficient and kept that way because the unions had more influence than ratepayers as 'service users'

If that sort of thing is going to work explain to me how its way of doing things is going to be that much different from the private sector. Assuming that in both cases the unions can play a sensible role in looking after employees' interests."

Totally agree, it should also be cast in stone that Unions are represented, as they are in Germany, on the Boards of the Companies their members work for. The unions, if operating responsibly and effectively are not there to simply look after the interests of their members but also look after the long term interests of the company and the industry in which their members are working - that has been the key to Germany's industrial success - responsible Trades Unions and responsible Management working together - doesn't happen in the UK because of our "us" and "them" mentality.