The Foreman

Timing, as they say, is everything. And nowhere is that more true than the delicate world of union politics. Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie is currently fighting off rivals as the leadership election process is in full swing. He is also having to simultaneously negotiate a pay settlement with the employers as the industry faces its grimmest times for more than a decade. Now it looks like the employers are set to offer a big fat 0% rise which is hardly going to be popular with the union rank-and-file as they cast their leadership votes. But letters have already been leaked to less cynical newspapers confirming that Ucatt is delaying pay talks because it wants to insert "anti-blacklisting" clauses in the deal. While we all agree that blacklisting is a scourge on the industry - it could be seen by some as a side issue to the pay talks. But if it delays any bad news on a pay deal until after the election it could be a fatal blow for Ritchie's challengers.