04.07.2001

Call for conference

Statement issued by Mark Serwotka, general secretary-elect of the Public and Commercial Services union, together with militant members of the national executives of Unison and the Communication Workers Union

orkers in the UK now work some of the longest hours in Europe, in return for some of the lowest rates of pay. The employers have driven up the pace and intensity of work and created a culture of workplace bullying and intimidation. Discrimination, prejudice and inequality is on the increase in the wake of this employers' offensive. Unions in the UK are the most restricted in the western world. Our public services are in decay and disrepair. But the New Labour government continues with the Tory agenda of privatisation, contracting out and PFI. The result is that inequality and poverty are on the increase.

As trade unionists we say enough is enough. It is time to stop the retreat.

We need a movement of membership across the trade unions that can:

• stand up for strong and effective trade unions, independent of the
• employers;
• coordinate and deliver effective physical, financial, political and industrial solidarity with those in struggle;
• fight for the repeal of anti-trade union laws and the implementation of a legal right to strike, take solidarity action and picket effectively;
• oppose, in alliance with service users, the government's agenda of privatisation, PPP and Best Value, and instead advocate the improvement and extension of public ownership based on democratic control;
• champion trade union democracy based on control of the trade unions by the members themselves.

We resolve to start such a movement, so to ensure that our trade unions fight back effectively against the employers and the government by every means at their disposal, both industrial and political. To that end we are calling a conference to organise all those in the unions who want to start the fightback now.

We ask all trade unionists to support this conference and to join together to change the direction of the trade union movement.