The call by trade union leader Len McCluskey for the London Olympics to be disrupted by industrial action has predictably caused a furore. The notion that “bolshy” trade unions could be party poopers at the Worlds biggest party has caused right wing politicians and tabloid newspaper editors to have an outbreak of pomposity.

Alas there was a time when Labour politicians feared rade unions. Nowadays of course, Labour politicians dont fear trade unions. …Labour politicians fear tabloid editors. The relationship between Labour and trade unions is a bit odd. Basically the way it works is that trade unions give lots of money to the Labour Party on the understanding that Labour will protect the ideals and interest of working class people. ……but……….in power Labour need to show the tabloid press and the floating voters of “middle England” that they are not in the pockets of trade unions.

The Olympic Games organisers recently stated that the Games will be delivered “under budget”. That is almost reassuring………until you realise that the “current” budget is a multiple of the original budget.

The Olympic Games were awarded to London in July 2005, just a day before fifty people were murdered in London bombings. The euphoria of merely winning the bid (a show of triumphalism over the French…as Paris lost narrowly) was gone within twenty four hours. Likewise the economic collapse just a few years later adds to the feeling that the London Olympics is a massive vanity project.

Let me state clearly that I LIKE Olympic Sport. I attended the first ten days of the Moscow Olympics in 1980 (itself a victim of disruption …the USA-led boycott). But it would be a mistake to think that Londoners are wholly behind the project. Some are. Some are not (including my family connexions in the City). Their objection is that Londons local tax payers will be paying for this for years to come. It is also obvious that ticketing arrangements favour corporate businesses rather than individual Londoners.

People will make money from the Olympics….including many of the people who most enthusiastically campaigned for it. Indeed there has been criticism of some British athletes for paying more attention to sponsorship contracts, personal appearances than actual training for their sports. It is hard to blame them. For the medium ranked competitor in sports which are only on television once every four years…….it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make some real cash.

Which brings me to the UNITE trade union and Len McCluskey. UNITEs members are low paid and often in the public sector. They will not make money from the Olympics. Yet the call to disrupt the Games by strike action will be seen as petty. And may even be petty. But it strikes me that the Union might actually be in tune with the feelings of its members..that they are at best drones at this Giant Party.

Of course for about a month on either side of the actual Games, there will be a renewed euphoria. Perhaps UNITE should disrupt the Weightlifting but please dont disrupt the Beach Volleyball. But I cant help feeling that these Games will leave a bitter taste.