THIS ROUND of trade union conferences will be the last before the General Election and the almost certain election of a Labour government. This fact was not lost on the major players at the conferences we look at below. The left pushed on key issues such as the anti-union laws and the minimum wage and top tables tried to avoid any firm commitments. On some occasions the leaderships seemed to judge it better to dodge fights than to lose them. Different tactics were adopted on the minimum wage at different conferences - not because there are principled differences but because of differences in the balance of forces.. It was not only in terms of policy for the Labour government that the bureaucracy feared its hands being tied but on questions of industrial strategy in the here and now. The left's ability to test them in this regard was patchy - the mould has labour party. Some lefts are involved in NURSES DEMONSTRATE UNISON not yet been broken. By and large this round of conferences saw small steps forward for the left - marking a clearly different relationship of forces than that currently at play in the campaigning - others are concerned mainly with electoral battles within the unions - not a sufficient basis to involved. But even the strongest can't take on Blair or the TUC UNISON. SuPPeR DUDLE NURSES w DO WE ГОРТНЕ DEMONSTRATE DRIES? Unison members demonstrate in defence of conditions at work The main opposition to the NEC and General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe came from the Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic Unison, which initiated a number of resolutions: * For action around the Asylum and Immigration Bill * For opposition to the anti-union laws * For solidarity with the Liverpool dockers * For greater democracy in Unison through the election of regional secretaries * Against the witchhunt of activists in Liverpool Unison CFDU also organised fringe meetings with the dockers and against the Asylum and Immigration Bill. leadership alone which is why the Broad Lefts federation conference in February 1997 is so important. But every nerve must be strained over the next months to prepare for the battles ahead. That is why arguing for action now and solidarity with disputes that do occur is key. That is why every step must be taken to build strong, campaigning lefts in each union. That is why the Broad Lefts Federation conference is key!
DUDLEY NURSES DEMONSTRATE