Ideas for Freedom (3-6 July, mostly at University of London Union) will be attended by trade union and labour movement activists from across the country - and many of the discussions will have a focus on trade unionism.
The years since the capitalist crisis hit have seen some inspiring workers' struggles. A few days after IFF, up to a million workers will go on strike against the public sector pay freeze. But so far the ruling class is winning - by and large, our unions have failed to rise to the challenge of defending their members and the wider working class. We will be discussing “How can unions regrow?” (4.30, Saturday), with a panel of activists from three union branches currently engaged in battle - Lambeth Unison Secretary Ruth Cashman, University of London IWGB President Jason Moyer-Lee and Ritzy cinema striker and BECTU activist Holly Fishman Crook. They will be joined by professor Gregor Gall, author of numerous writings on militant trade unionism.
John McDonnell MP, who represents many unions in Parliament, Gemma Short of Rotherham NUT and James Elliot of Labour Students for Free Education will begin a discussion on what demands the left - and trade unionists - should place on the Labour Party (2.50, Saturday).
Many other sessions will also feature trade union speakers or themes. Speakers at our special “Century of radical women's struggles, 1914-2014” (Friday night) event will include SUArts President Shelly Asquith on the rise of cleaners' battles and student solidarity at London Universities and RMT Women's Advisory Committee chair Becky Crocker on women workers' fight to transform the labour movement. Chris Hickey of PCS will discuss how trade unions can contribute to the fight against inequality (6.20, Saturday). Other union speakers at the event will include Pat Murphy of the National Union of Teachers national executive, RMT London Transport LGBT Officer Paul Penny and Nigerian trade unionist Yemisi Ilesanmi.
We will also be learning from trade union and workers' struggles in history. In addition to the stream of speakers and sessions on the great Miners' Strike of 1984-5, Jill Mountford and Daniel Randall's Radical Walking Tour of East London (Thursday night) will highlight the rich history of workers' struggles in the area (Thursday night). Edd Mustill of Kings College Unison will be speaking on “The shop stewards' movement and workers' struggles during the First World War” (6.20, Saturday). Unison health activist Stuart Jordan will look at how trade unionism and environmentalism interacted during “The socialist ecological struggles of 2006-10” (1, Sunday).
There will also be caucuses for various workplaces and unions throughout the weekend - ask if you'd like to be put in touch with activists from your union at the event.
For more information and the full agenda, see www.workersliberty.org/ideas