On the face of it, the new deal agreed between the Government and the so-called Big Four unions could benefit a large number of employees. The 16-point programme that Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has been instrumental in putting together in his role as Minister of Employment, Consumer Affairs and Competition could help to improve the work-life balance of many workers.

Apparently the closed-door meeting to thrash out the deal involved some tough talking and a refusal to budge on the unions' agenda on strike and secondary picketing, among other issues. The result was a win-win situation for the Government.

Not only did the unions profess their delight at Labour's new agenda but the fact that they were seemingly forced to back down on their more radical policies will be seen as a signal to business that Labour is not willing to allow shift back to the sort of union power that caused so much disruption in the 1970s.

Of course it is entirely in the unions' interests as well to take a back seat in the run-up to the next general election. It is hard to imagine, with some of the rhetoric we've heard from some union leaders in recent months, that they won't return to the fray once the election is over, regardless of who is in power.

Much of Bradford's employment is founded on small to medium-sized companies which may find it very difficult to afford some of the policies the Government has apparently committed itself to developing. It will be interesting to see what effect that has on Mr Sutcliffe's pledge to help find work for the district's 20,000 jobless.