14 June, 2010
UK’s Unite the Union held its first Policy Conference 31 May to 3 June at the Manchester Central Convention Complex with 700 delegates present. Entitled “Working for Working People,” the biannual event was the first jointly held conference since the 1 May 2007 merger between the Transport and General Workers Union and Amicus that created Unite.
Central themes of the four-day conference included winning back the British Labour Party for working people, keeping a sturdy manufacturing base in the UK, stopping erosion of public services and public sector workers against Tory assaults, and addressing the bullying affront by British Airways against the union’s cabin crew members.
The conference also took up several intentional topics, including support for Canadian strikers of the United Steelworkers (USW) at mining company Vale, strong condemnation of Israel’s aggressive policies against Palestinians, support to Latin American unions resisting capitalist demands, and, closer to home, a hearing over the lack of rights for Unite’s Moroccan members working in Gibraltar.
Tony Woodley, USW’s Gerald Fernandez, Canadian Vale striker Bob Belowos, United Executive Council Chair Tony Woodhouse, and Derek Simpson
Some 180 policy issues were tabled.
The biggest debate occurred on 2 June over whether or not Britain ought to scrub its £76 billion Trident nuclear weapon system when its service life ends in 2024. The debate centered on peace and disarmament versus jobs and workers’ livelihoods, with discussion on how cancelling the programme can liberate monies for public services, such as health, education, and social services. After a fierce debate, Unite’s Executive Council recommendation for peace and disarmament won out.
On 2 June, UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General Brendan Barber spoke. He said that manufacturing must become the centerpiece of a new economy. “Whether it’s high-speed trains or electric vehicles, whether it’s wind turbines or more efficient airplane engines, we have the skills, the experience, and the expertise to build them here.”
Woodley and Simpson
Barber lashed out at the consequences hoisted on British society by financiers. “It is just plain wrong that our schools, hospitals, and local councils should pay the price for a crisis inspired by the free-market dogma, created in the City of London, and caused by the richest minority of the richest minority.”
Unite’s Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley had harsh words for the Labour Party. “It is a scandal that at the end of 13 years of Labour government, the right to strike is hanging by a thread. (It is) at the mercy of employers who would rather sue than settle, and Tory judges who … think strikes are OK as long as they don’t inconvenience the bosses.
“So I want to make one thing clear to all Labour leadership contenders. Our vote should only go to the candidate who pledges – unequivocally, no mealy-mouthed phrases, to do what Labor was set up to do – create a level playing field at work, and scrap the anti-union laws.”
Unite Delegates Voting on a Policy Measure
Speaking on the conference’s final day, 3 June, Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson – who will retire at year’s end – addressed Unite’s merger coordination with the United Steelworkers of North America, called Workers Uniting. He said it was the UK’s failure to implement social partnership models, common throughout Europe, which has left the markets to rule in the UK – as well as in the US.
“If you need to fight the employer on a multi-national field,” said Simpson, “you need a multi-national union and the USW feels the same way.”
While Simpson will retire this year, Woodley will follow him to retirement in the next calendar year. Unite branches are conducting nominations and five candidates announced their intent to succeed Woodley, with elections to start in October of this year.