Unions & politics

Trade Unions and politics

Stalinists, whataboutery, Ukraine and the unions

London bin workers protest in support of Ukraine After much prevarication, ambiguity and double-speak, the official “line” of the Communist Party of Britain (and therefore also the Morning Star ) on Ukraine has gradually emerged. The main report delivered to the party’s political committee last week (published in edited form in the Morning Star of 20 April), states that: • “fascism is embedded in the Ukrainian state.” • “US and British politicians continue to spout the myth of a winnable war...” • “What is needed is... a ceasefire and negotiations for a peaceful settlement that respects...

Climate change: how unions can step up

John Moloney, Assistant General Secretary of civil service trade union PCS, spoke to Sacha Ismail. Our union has recently been in discussion with others about the possibility of a trade union initiative on climate change. There’s now a draft statement that has gone back to unions for amendment — a fairly general political statement. PCS has submitted two amendments: firstly to propose a conference later this year, to bring together unions and union-oriented climate campaigns; and secondly for the creation of a standing union-based organisation that campaigns continually, outside of...

Solidarity with the John Fisher strike!

The strike at the John Fisher Catholic school in the south London borough of Sutton, over the cancelling of an author’s visit and the sacking of governors in connection with it, has now been widely reported. See, for instance, here and here.

The author, Simon James Green writes teen fiction that...

Climate activists join refinery workers' picket

Over a dozen of us took an Extinction Rebellion Trade Unionists (XRTU) delegation to support the strike and lively picket line of Fawley Oil Refinery workers, from 6 am on Friday 8 April. With inflation predicted by some to be as high as 9.8%, the 2.5% pay offer by bosses to Fawley oil refinery workers is a huge real-value pay cut. There are two entrances to the plant. Around 60 workers and a handful of other supporters were at the main one; 40 at the other. The picket line was lively, and had a high turnout from workers employed at the three contractors in dispute. Older workers told me it...

UK unions stand with Ukraine

Hundreds of labour movement activists marched behind trade union banners, in defence of Ukraine’s right to freedom and in opposition to Putin’s war, in central London on Saturday 9 April. John Moloney, AGS of the civil servants’ union, PCS and a central organiser of the demonstration, said, “I am pleased with the turnout today. British trade unionists know the importance of international working-class solidarity and we back our brothers and sisters in Ukraine." The march had been formally backed, and at short notice, by PCS, ASLEF, NUM, CWU, TSSA, the Bakers’ Union, GMB and UCU. At the front...

March for Ukraine on 9 April

Workers’ Liberty is actively building the trade union-organised march for Ukraine assembling at 12 noon, on Saturday 9 April, in Parliament Square, London. As Odessa burns, attacked last Sunday with Russian missiles, and Mariupol is surrounded and devastated by Vladimir Putin’s artillery, British workers need to stand up and show our opposition to this carnage. The Russian imperialist war, conducted with the intention of destroying Ukraine’s national rights, must be opposed by the left and the labour movement. As Solidarity goes to press, six national unions are backing this demonstration in...

Tory retreats on Elections Bill

The Tories have stepped back on two clauses in the Elections Bill, due to start “report stage” in the Lords on 6 April. Powers remove the right of categories of organisation (maybe including unions) to campaign in elections will nows be effective only on the recommendation of the Electoral Commission. New rules that could have made Labour’s affiliated unions liable for Labour campaign expenditure will be deleted. The Bill still includes a rule requiring photo ID to vote, and more. But this shows again that this government is one with many u-turns, unconfident with its strategy, and can be...

Trade union march for Ukraine, 9 April

We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and call for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine. The Russian government's violence has caused thousands of Ukrainian deaths and forced millions to flee their homes. We stand with the people of Ukraine in this time of their suffering. As a trade union movement, we call for a just peace. We urge all governments to reach a negotiated solution. We send solidarity to the trade unionists of Ukraine who have been engaged in humanitarian assistance and resistance to the invasion. We will support in whatever way we can...

Down with Putin! Arm Ukraine!

The Financial Times recently ran an op-ed piece speculating on the probabilities of the various paths the conflict in Ukraine could take. Given a 60% chance was the likelihood of a drawn-out conflict. Tragically, as things stand now, a long war does look likely. The alternative prospects of a quick overturn of Vladimir Putin’s regime in Russia, or a quick military victory for Ukraine — events which were hope will happen, and which we are working for — seem less likely. Putin, despite the military setbacks he has suffered, still has greater resources than Ukraine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr...

From fear to fightback (John Moloney's column)

We need to learn from the result of our consultative ballot over cost-of-living issues. We will be able to break the data down to workplace and branch levels, and the places with higher rates of return will give us an indication of where we have stronger organisation. Around 70,000 members took part in the ballot, but that includes those who voted electronically and postally, as we have some members for whom we don’t have email addresses. As can be imagined, amongst those who voted electronically we had a higher turnout. It’s clear we didn’t sufficiently energise our activist base in this...

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