I attended believing that the conference had been purposefully timed to coincide with March 8 and that a special erent would be held to mark it. No such event hapthis was my first Women's TUC, and it was interesting to see women's issues being debated from a wide variety of occupational members.
But it was disappointing to realise that the was merely advisory and not the General Council. It raised obvious questions about at UCLH.
the TUC takes criticisms of women's issucs - tacy appcar to not trust women to make The growing climate of witch-hunt in the "member-led" public sector union UNISON has reached a new peak with the expulsion of two high-profile activists in London.
Candy Udwin is branch secretary and Dave Carr chair of the UCLH Branch covering five central London hospitals. Candy was also recently elected deputy convenor of UNISON's London Region and is a London Socialist Alliance constituency candidate. Both are SWP They have been expelled by a UNISON kangaroo court after treading on the toes of national union offi cers during the fight against a Private Finance Initiative scheme While many on the left may have some of the tactics employed in that struggle, the overriding factor for UNISON is that Candy Udwin on the LSA campaign bus after a prolonged court battle with The Network of Socialist Campaign Groups presents strike action, the UCLH branch won what is accepted as the best deal for staff in any PFi scheme. The determination of UNISON'S New Labour-dominated bureaucracy to witch-hunt and victimise Candy and Dave can only be seen as a determination to prevent any similar struggles to defend NHS and conditions.
But the fight is not over yet. Both Intend to appeal against the deci sion, and have not ruled out taking legal action to reverse a cynical Initial supporters of the campaign to defend Candy and Dave include Tony Benn and UNISON's London convenor Geoff Martin.
The campaign can be contacted c/o Sandy Nicoll, chair SOAS UNISON, University of London, Thornhaugh St, London WC1H OXG.