Time to target the trade unions
Socialist Outlook1980sScanned print read by OCR, and not yet proofread: expect run-together words, dropped letters and, where a piece began partway down a page, a few lines of its neighbour. The printed page is the authority.
Time to target the trade
unions
The Socialist Conference has never been strong in the unions, not least because it emerged in 1987 as an opposition to new realism, the bedrock of which was always in the top levels of the trade
The exception has been a section of the NUM leadership under Arthur Scargill and Peter Heathfield, reflecting their distinctive political line within the trade union movement, and the support given to the miners' strike by Tony Benn others now at the center of the Socialist Conference movement
Potential trade union support for the Socialist Conference has always been at regional and local level and amongst the rank and file, rather than at national level. The Bennite movement of the early 1980% had strong support amongst the rank and file of the trade unions. despite its tendency to look more fowards left wing full-time officials. Much of that support is potentially still there, although it has never been properly addressed or organised.
The first Socialist Conference had virtually no trade union side to it. Although it was attended by a large number of trade unionists, including rank and file miners, it did not address their problems or give them a perspective, The Recond Conference was better, but Scargill was not there and did not organise his potential sup-
Despite these weaknesses, there has been a clear willingness in the Socialist Conference to take on trade union issues, and some progress has been made. Now new opportunities present themselves. Whatever the nutcome of the present wave of disputes it is clear that there is a significant change of mood in the working class, which opens up the possibility of a fight-
What makes a Socialist Conference trade union initiative important is that despite this rise in the level of militancy and struggle, "new realism" continues to dominate the leadership in both the trade unions and the Labour Party, which are in fact still moving to the right In this situation, with the rank and file on the move and leadership in continued retreat, there is a clear opening for the Socialist Conference. There is already evidence of regeneration of rank and file organisation The Socialist Conference is by for the best placed of any political current to promote such a devclopment.
To fill this vacuum, however, the Socialist Conference must have a campaigning stance and a class struggle line within the unions. It must be seen as the main force tackling new realism in the unions as well ax in the Labour Party. The Socialist Conference har to have an effective reply to Kinnock's Policy Review, and that debate has to he had out in the trade unions and at union conferences. This invoives the defence of unilateral nuclear disarmament and the fight for the implementation of such a policy when Labour is in office. I also calls for
FEATURE policics to re-nationalise privatised industry and services, and reverse Tory attacks on the democratic rights of the working class.
Socialists need campaigning priorities for their trade union work. The trade unions and the
TO:
The Socialist Conference must have a clear position on the use of the law against the unions - both the need to break the Tory lawn and for their repeal by a future Labour Government, Recent court decisions show time and again that the Tory anti-union laws and the way they are used by the courts are the single most serious problem faced by the trade union movement in Britain today. The very right to strike in this country is now seriously threatened by these laws.
The trade union movement has been weakened, but is still more than strong cough to take on these laws and defeat them - the problem is that the leadership is opposed to any such achion.
Solidarity with struggles
The Socialist Conference has a good record of solidarity with those in struggle and is well prepared to give solidarity to the dockers, particularly through its links with the Solidarity Network. A successful rally was held last year in Finshury Town Hall and a series of rallies are planned - in London, Liverpool, Hull and Glas gow in support of the dockers.
The employers' offensive
Under Thatcher the employers have intro duced a range of new working practices includ ing participatory techniques such as 'quality circles" and "team leaders" imported from the USA and Japan. They have introduced Dexibility, multi-skilling and new tems, The Socialist Conference needs to be able to address these problems if it is to become a force in the unions.
Privatisation and the attacks on the NHS
Socialists in the unions have to discuss an effective strategy against privatisation and the attacks on the health service. Privatisation is an issue in many of the present pay rounds, where bargaining structures are being changed ready for sell off. Opposition to the cuts in the NHS and the NHS White Paper could he organised Far more effectively if socialists become more involved and active in health campaigns.
The Single European Market in 1992 is a thajor challenge to the trade union movement in Britain. The Socialist Conference should be opposed to the EEC and ihe measures it promotes against the working class —not on the hasis of defending British sovereignty'. but from the point of view of detending the inde-
Scargill: Isolated opponent of the new realism pendent interests of the European and intemational working class.
Health and safety
Health and safety at work and in the com munity is now a major political issue in Britain. Hillsbough, the Herald of Free Enterprise, Piper Alpha, Kings Cross, the Clapham rail crash, the escalation of accidents on building sites and the drop in safety standards in industry all have a common factor in the kind of society the Torick are tring to build. They have weakened trade union organisation - which at the end of the day is the only real safeguard of safety standards. The Health and Safety conference, organised jointly by the Socialist Conference and the Solidarity Network, was a uscful contribution to understanding this problem.
Democratising the unions
The Socialist conference should see the democratisation of the unions as a major campaigning priority, fighting for democratic internai union procedures, adequate information to: members: mass meetings and democratic balInting procedures free from the influence of the courts; the regular election of all union officials, and the democratisation of the block vote at Labour Party conference,
If the Socialist Conference is to campaign effcctively on such policies in the unions, it needs to be much better organised, The Trade Union policy group needs to be strengthened and regional policy groups should be set up. There is already a positive initiative in the West Midlands to organise along these lines. The Socialist Conference should support and help to organise left groupings and Broad Lells within the unions, and should give full and active support to trade union rank and file move-
The conference of trade unionists being organised by the Socialist Conference in November can provide an important forum to discuss these issues and the general relevance of the trade union movement in the 1990s. It should elect a broadly based trade union steering com mittee which can organise and develop the various aspects of trade union work.
If this is done seriously, this type of work by socialists in the unions can also play a key role in the political fight against Kinnock's new realism in the Labour Party. That is the challenge before this year's Socialist Conference.
Alan Thornett