Evolving industrial action have been played down or simply ignored.
There have been hundreds more leaflets sent to UNISON branches offering mortgages, credit cards and "Once In A Lifetime" trips to Croyde Bay Holiday Camp (I kid you not) than there have publicising the campaign against the pay freeze and privatisation.
In the week that the Government announced that Guy's Hospital was going to close, UNISON Week, the activists' magazine, contained a glossy brochure publicising a conference supporting management buy-outs of public services. Inspired stuff.
So how should the left respond? For a start there needs to be a breaking down of the exNALGO domination of the debate on the left in the union.
There has to be a recognition that the partner unions come from different cultures, with the development/human rights told by Tom Sawyer that accepting "caring cuts' by Labour councils (the 'dented shield' policy) is the only way, are starting to hit back at LCC-dominated Councils who seem hell bent on out-doing the Tories over cuts and privatisation. It's a step forward that we need to encourage.
On the health side there's huge potential which needs to be tapped.
The balance on the left has to be shifted away from the old NALGO/local stronghold if we're going to spearhead a campaign for a major UNISON fightback over the destruction of the NHS both in London and beyond.
There is a genuine anger and frustration at the way UNISON has shaped up which is crying out for a focus.
The left can tap into this, if it recognises that there are real possibilities of winning much broader support than before, across all sectors of the union.
If we begin to take up issues including the collapse in standards of service to members and activists alongside demands for a fightback over pay, privatisation and the attack on the public services, then our influence will grow.
Bournemouth is our big chance. withdrew 'without reservation'.