'I Value The Link' To Unions – Miliband

The labour leader Ed Miliband has told a major union conference he "value's the link" between them and his party.

During his keynote speech at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference on Monday, the Labour leader said he would resist any attempt to break the historical links between the two "movements", despite being criticised by TUC members over his comments on this year's public sector strikes.

In June, a wave of public sector unions went on strike over austerity cuts made by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition. However, Mr Miliband, who was championed by the union's during his campaign for the Labour leadership in 2010, upset the congress members saying during the strikes saying: "these strikes are wrong at a time when negotiations are going on".

It was his first address to the country's unions since his controversial remarks, during which he attempted to strengthen the links between himself and the union movement.

"The three million trade union levy payers – working men and women – are a huge asset to our party," Mr Miliband said. "They should never, ever, feel like passive or unwanted members of our movement. I want them to feel part of it. Proud of it."

Referring to the disagreement, Mr Miliband said: Of course, there are times when you and I will disagree. You will speak your mind and so will I, but our link is secure enough, mature enough, to deal with disagreement because the relationship between party and unions is not about romance or nostalgia, it is about respect and shared values.

It is a relationship in which we listen to each other when we disagree and we know that what unites us is greater than what divides us. I want us reaching out to the people who are not members of our party, not even members of the trade unions, to hear their voices too."

However, the Labour leader came under some heckling by the TUC membership, and was jeered as he praised the difference academies had made to education in his constituency.

(DW/CD)