03.10.2001

Unison United Left

On hold

The founding conference of Unison United Left, due to be held on Saturday October 13, is now in doubt. There are strong pressures being brought to bear from the Socialist Workers Party and its allies in the union to postpone the conference in favour of attending the Stop the War demonstration in London on the same day. That such a proposal is being debated and has a good chance of getting through is not good news for serious socialist activists in Unison. There have already been criticisms of the organisers because of inadequate advance notification and failure to seriously build for the event.

The Weekly Worker has taken the SWP to task in the past for its attitude towards working conferences and the limited workers? democracy that exists in the movement - we need to extend democracy. This is vital for the health and development of our class as a real political force. Too often the SWP shows a penchant for rallies and sees debate, conducted in a businesslike manner, as a diversion. Through treating minority viewpoints with respect we begin to establish trust. Whether it is the unions, the Socialist Alliance or the anti-war campaign, there is a worrying tendency to curtail debate as something that will ?put people off? - and challenge the SWP?s own sect objectives. We need to take unity campaigns much more seriously, not regard them as disposable fronts that can be picked up and dropped at will.

Why am I opposed to postponing the conference? Surely we should strike together and support the anti-war demo, runs the argument. Leaving aside the minimal effect that taking out, say, 100 activists from a mass demonstration would have, such conferences should, in my opinion, be viewed as part of the our anti-war strategy. Our campaign in Unison should not be seen purely in terms of ?trade union issues? - as if they were totally separate from the drive to war. Blair has used the new situation to face down union opposition to privatisation - the TUC was abandoned and he succeeded in buying off most of the union tops at Labour?s own truncated affair.

The conference is needed not only to discuss the issues affecting Unison members as trade unionists and to fight for the leadership of the rank and file of this strategically important union, but as part of the struggle to equip the wider workers? movement with a programme to oppose the war, and to provide the anti-war campaign with a conscious working class orientation.

If this weekend?s interim national committee (with its SWP majority) decides on postponement, then the United Left project will have received a setback. Unity is a precious commodity - it cannot be taken for granted.

Lawrie Coombs
Middlesbrough Unison