Union leaders are meeting the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) today - to discuss a series of demands that the unions want to see included in the Labour Party's next election manifesto.
Union bosses feel they are in a very strong negotiating position because they are again acting as Labour's paymasters - providing 90% of the party's funding - now that individual donors have deserted the fold following the recent 'cash for honours' row and police investigation.
So, their shopping list is wide and varied - ranging from new picketing rights during an industrial dispute (bonkers) to the introduction of 'fair employment' rights in council contracts (good idea - but 10 years too late).
What's noticeable is the absence of any sensible measures to strengthen the existing equal pay legislation - which has been on the statute books for almost 40 years ever since the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
Why is this? Because although Labour and the trade unions claim to support equal pay - they have a terrible track record when it comes to delivering results.
The fact is that Labour run councils and Labour supporting trade unions have presided over pay systems - that for years have blatantly discriminated against many female jobs.
So, the unions are not anxious to draw attention to their part in this ignoble affair - because it would require them to face up to some home truths about how well the unions stand up for the rights of their women members.
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