UNISON's annual conference hek between the • 8 and 22 June sent a warning broadside to the government: no more privatisations. In a rare display of and the NEC, the conference condemned New Labour for its continuing propramme of privatisation of public serrices including PFl, and of the rise of racism fanned by scape-goating of asylum SOCIS This ISG pamphlet is a contribution to the debate within the on the policies needed to challenge New Labour and unite a broad movement of the left.
E2.00 including post & packaging from ISG, c/о РО Box 1109, London N4 2UU. The agreement between delegates and the NEC, including the new general secretary Davo Prentis. was expressed in the form of voting through motions which obviously condemned privati- government. sation, but which also coming a national demonstration against PFl, a lobby of when Stephen Byers, strikes against the effects of Local Government, was PFl and privatisation.
led by delegates. This than the NEC had been pre. pared to support in the past, €2 John Lister and goes someway towards ference was sparked off by the left's view than only a his insistence that he would national campaign including industrial action can have a agenda for "chango"; in chance of defeating the public services and pretend. national attacks from the ing that this was not privatisation.
The scene to adopting this The widespread disillusion moton on t wednesday with New Labour by UNISON was set on the day before members was also the reaMinister for Transport and by 478,088 to 386,226 the Notorious motion 131 titied widely and repeatedly heck- The Labour Government:
What do we get for our unprecedented reception for money? This motion noted that members are ... UNISON is handing over £1.4m a year to the Labour Party while at the same time it is attacking public services and members' jobs and that electors are voting for independent candidates that are opposed to attacks on pubThe motion went on to state that UNISON was therefore not using its funds to pursue UNISON's policies. The motion committed the NEC to consult with brancres ano reons t order to prepare a report to next year's conference on ical funds. By adopting this motion, ating from Labour. But it is a Coming closely on a similar vote at the FBU conference, members are no longer as loyal to Labour as in the past, and are prepared to stop "feeding the hands that step towards a political break from Labour, which the Socialist Alliance and Scottish Socialist Party repConference unanimously voted through a motion conracism, calling for the repeal of all racist immigration controis and asylum laws*. develop a relationship with the Anti-Nazi League and the Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers, and to initiManchester this autumn tion of a campaign against the BNP in the run-up to resolution and correctly olaced the responsibility for the rise of racism in the context of the virulent scapegodune or asyum seenets Dy all the main parties. UNISON conference also carried motions to campaign during a referendum against union, and committing the union to take a high campaigh against the General Agreement on Trade in union democracy was the railure for a third year running to adopt internal union disciplinary procedures which would be democratic.
Unfortunately, a rule change making suspension from membershio eas er was adopted.
The surprising degree of eral secretary and the NEC to New Labour's privatisation or pudic services nas been sparked by the extent and unchallenged, New Labour's privatisations in its second term will devastate public services like the Tories derastated the nationalised This places the public seccor union leaderships with a stark choice: either make some sort of a stand against seeing their unions devas. cated or being overwhelmed want a fight.
The large number of unofficial strikes in the Post Office as it prepares for privatisapolitical break with Labour are straws in the wind that beginning to take place.
The newly launched "United Left in UNISON nas a great challenge ahead: to un tor a mont to make sure that the conference paign against privatisation are carried through rapidly and ciecuvely.
Outlook
to Blair Policies for change