But among sections of the voting public there is a creeping distrust trade unions, who see them as agitators, making unrealistic demands and holding the country to ransom when things don't go their way.

I've spoken to people who will struggle to get up to Leeds Festival this weekend because of strikes by rail staff.

Do you remember the news clips of upset families whose holiday plans have been left in ruins by striking cabin crew?

Or how about how the Tory press rounded on the teachers when they went on strike, with a seemingly endless supply of miffed parents saying public sector workers don't know they're born etc?

I've heard members of the Labour Party say think union membership should be a prerequisite of joining, or grill candidates on why they aren't union men (unions, by the way, still seem dominated by men - why is this? Then again I'm not sure I'd like to meet the female version of Bob Crow!).

That's the kind of talk that sees voters running away in their droves.

We need to accept that in a modern, post-industrial economy with a raft of legislation protecting worker's rights, a lot of people just don't seem to feel they need to belong to a union, and are politically malleable.

We should work with the unions, and listen to them, but be wary of being too close. It will give our enemies firepower, and could see potential voters, like the mostly young people off to Leeds festival this weekend, put their crosses elsewhere.