MSF conference, the first trade union conference to take place after the Election, demonstrated yet again that new Labour Thos no mandate for privatisaThe discussion on the NHS was one of the high. lights, and General Secretary Roger Lyons felt under pressure to issue a the union's commitment to defend any member's job This was in contrast to the pronouncements of AEEU nouncements at his own union conference in Blackpool - the union with which MSF is soon going to merge.
Against the advice of the top table, conference massed a resolution opposing privatisation of council housing, with new Cabinet Minister Charles Clarke Silting on the platform.
Clarke was clearly riled enough to deviate from his own text to lecture delegates that they misunderstood what privatisation He claimed that the cor- on rect definition was the narrow one of charging for ser- NH. vices at the point of delvery - but the response from delegates demonstrated that Other victories for the left included the decision to amiate to t ant and oppose the sanctions and bombing of trad Unfortunately despite gaining a majority on 5 occasions, delegates were unable to tree a dotte or the financial scandals surrounding Roger Lyons, Or on the witch-hunts faced by activists in London and Sucessful meetings organised jointly by for a democratic union and by Unity Left together with left activists in the AEU demonstrated that the left is NOW! Lour ins