The future of democracy?

I have just heard on the World at One, a spokesmen for the postal workers make the statement, "We've looked after them, now they must look after us." Them/they is the Labour Party to which the postal workers contribute generously, and the looking after is cancelling the intention to sell off part of Royal Mail.

This is worrying on two accounts.

Firstly, what does it say when a contributor to a political party expects a "return" on their gift? Is this a case that all voters are equal but some are more equal than others? (The same concern would apply if any business made a contribution to any political party, or to MPs, in return for favours. We would call this electoral corruption.) Doubtless such graft occurs whatever party is in control, and it is wrong. Perhaps we should be glad that the postal workers have spoken openly about the influence they expect.

Everybody and every body should have the right to speak out in defence of their rights, and even to pressurise the government, even using the corrupting influence of lobbying firms. We cannot have the situation where whoever pays the piper calls the tune.

Secondly, the statement suggests that Royal Mail belongs to postal workers, and no-one else has a legal interest in what happens to it. If it does not raise funds, Royal Mail, will probably have to close its final salary pension scheme, or will the union demand subsidies from the taxpayer to maintain it. What voice do taxpayers have in this?