The brothers and sisters at the STUC are fraternally engaged in the defence of colleagues and comrades in the workplace. All work together in common cause.
Nowhere was collaboration more evident than in the elections to the general council. Ronnie Smith, Educational Institute of Scotland general secretary, sailed through with 1218 votes.
David Bleiman, Association of University Teachers assistant general secretary, faced opposition from the broadcasting union’s candidate, who received 376 votes to Bleiman’s 948.
Malicious and scurrilous rumour suggests that the EIS voted against the AUT, along with two other major unions. A shot across the bows for poaching members in higher education, perhaps?