sentatives of 13 union broad left organisations met in the same room to talk about working together.
The meeting was organised by the Socialist Teachers Alliance. Other left groups at the meeting included those from UNISON, MSF, the NUJ, the CPSA, the CWU, NATFHE and Equity. Individuals from the GPMU, the TGWU and the RMT were also present.
Many delegates pointed out that despite the leaderships' collapse into Blairism their unions had good policies on a range of issues.
These included support for a minimum wage, re-nationalisation of the utilities and defence of equal opportunities.
However policies tend to stay paper. The paid union bureaucrats were not willing to lead a fight against the employers' offensives.
In many cases union leaders were attacking internal democracy. STA members said that NUT General Secretary, Doug TERS MINERS ON SIRIKI 10 SAVE 0* HOSTAL surmei MINERS* McEvoy, had completely undermined a vote by conference representatives to hold a ballot on strike action, saying it was first necessary to consult members on the issues. A united left across the whole of the trade union movement could generate an alternative pole of resistance.
McEvoy's ballot papers were nevertheless accompanied by publicity stating that action would not work and that the conference had been hijacked by left wing militants.
tHOU OT TH MINERS OT THE Delegates agreed that it was high time to start fighting back against the employers' offensive and the collusion of the bureaucracy. A united left across the whole of the trade union moveSAVE LIVES SAT OUR SACK ON SANIKE • HOSPIUN SUNTOKY ANAT A SNERS ment could generate an alternative pole of resistance. Common themes could be explored and mass campaigns in defence of working class interests could be built.
After a further meeting in April a joint statement will be issued. It is also planned to hold a fringe meeting at the TUC and an open conference in the autumn.
Michael Eve