Digby Jones: Warning shot to trade unions

Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme that unions and bosses were growing apart at a time when the UK was facing a potentially damaging rise in employment legislation.

Mr Jones also accused the unions of "outright obstruction" on the issue of public service reform, saying their stance was motivated by a desire to defend their power bases, rather than concern for those who use public services.

"Unions are tending to be a block to reform," he said.

"They are tending to put ideology and the arguments of yesterday ahead of the interests of most of their members."

TUC speech

Many trade union groups are resisting government efforts to increase the role of the private sector in delivering public services on the grounds that workers employed by private sector sub-contractors are often paid less than their public sector counterparts.

Mr Jones also urged the unions to work together with industry chiefs in an effort to prepare the British workforce and economy for the challenge of growing global competition.

"I only wish that trade unions, especially those who are adopting a more militant attitude to many things, would fight the battles of tomorrow, and stop fighting the battles of yesterday."

Mr Jones warned that the rise of union militancy came at a time when the UK was losing its competitive advantage because of rising employment regulation and poor workforce skills.

But Bill Morris, General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, denied that trade unions were obstructing reform.

"We're facilitating the reforms in the public services, there's a constant and regular dialogue. But what we're not getting is cooperation, particularly from the CBI, because the CBI stands as a block to progress," he said.

Mr Jones' attack on the unions comes one week before he is due to address the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress in Brighton.