Labour Representation Committee

By a CWU member The conference of the postal and telecoms workers' union, the CWU, discussed the relationship of the union to the Labour Party in the context of the expulsion of the the RMT, and an expected disaffiliation of the FBU. There were several propositions calling for the union to take a more pro-active stance towards the Labour Party, including one calling for a review of the supported MPs and a calling to account of CWU delegates to Labour Party bodies, as well as support for the Labour Representation Committee. However at the last moment an Emergency proposition was taken that...

The launch Conference of the Labour Representation Committee took place on Saturday 3rd July. Over 300 delegates packed out the TUC Congress Centre to discuss key policy issues and debate the future of the Labour Party. John McDonnell MP welcomed everyone to the Conference and called for comradely solidarity in debate and in the plans for organising for socialism in the Labour Party. There was a spirit of unity, with many of the delegates being aware that this Conference represented the most serious attempt in the last decade to rally the forces of the left of the Labour Party. The principle...

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) Annual Conference discussed the relationship of the Union to the Labour Party in the context of the expulsion of the the RMT, and the expected disaffiliation of the FBU, which was announced the same week. On the political section of the agenda there were several propositions calling for the Union to take a more proactive stance in its relationship with the Labour Party, including one calling for a review of the supported MPs and a calling to account of CWU delegates to Labour Party bodies as well as support for the Labour Representation Committee. However...

By a CWU member At the General Conference of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) (14 June) the European Working Time Directive will be discussed. At present, different sections of the union have different policies on whether individual opt-outs should continue. The Telecoms Executive negotiates with telecoms companies to get rid of opt-outs, and its policy is for an end to them. The Postal Executive, however, believes that because of the low pay in Royal Mail and other companies, long working hours are necessary for now. The union's answer should be to fight for a shorter working week, and...

The leaders of the 'Big Four' unions, Amicus, GMB, TGWU, and Unison - the trade-union 'mountains' - have recently made noises to suggest that they are about to go into labour. But so far they have not given birth even to the proverbial mouse. They have had private meetings to draw up an 'alternative' trade-union version of the Labour manifesto for next year's General Election - that is, proposals they want to put into New Labour's manifesto. So far not much. And not enough. By the time of the General Election, the Blair 'Labour' government will be eight years old. Through all that time it has...

By Colin Foster Thursday 10 June will be a big election day, but, unfortunately, one with a small socialist presence. Seventy-eight Euro-MPs will be elected, by proportional representation in each of 12 giant regions. The regions vary in size from three Euro-MPs to 10. In London, the mayor and 25 members of the Greater London Assembly (GLA) will be elected. For mayor, voters can cast first- and second-choice votes, and the second-choice transfers will count if no candidate gets an outright majority of first choices. For the Assembly, electors have both a constituency vote (for Assembly members...

The "big four" trade union leaders - Tony Woodley of the TGWU, Derek Simpson of Amicus, Kevin Curran of GMB, and Dave Prentis of Unison - have laid down their demands for the next Labour manifesto. They include a big council house-building programme and an end to the Private Finance Initiative. The unions' statement, adopted on 15 May and endorsed by ASLEF, CWU, FBU, GPMU and NUM as well as the big four, has not yet been published in full, and it is not clear what action the union leaders propose beyond private meetings and letters. For reports see the TGWU website , the Guardian , and the...

The Socialist Alliance, the Respect Unity Coalition and the future of the left On 25 January, short of a political miracle, a tarpaulin will be pulled over much of working-class socialist politics in England. The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and a large part of the activist left will sign up the "Respect" coalition as their political vehicle for the coming months. Its politics: a bland collation of sops for various constituencies (peace, green, Muslim, trade-union). Its figurehead: George "I need £150,000 a year" Galloway. Marx and Engels called the Communist Manifesto communist, not...

There were two Labour Party conferences. One was the official conference, organised as a publicity event for the leadership of the Labour Party. It had quite an unprecedented degree of ruthless organisation to engender the maximum televised exhibition of support for the leader of the Party. And there was a more important second and separate conference: where trade unions formed a coalition with the Labour left. For the first time in fifteen years we had an effective vehicle for left action inside the Labour Party. Every left fringe meeting was packed with delegates. Our coalition worked...

Solidarity and Workers' Liberty believe that what's needed now is rank and file Labour Representation Committees of trade unionists and socialists in every city across the country. We have been campaigning for seven years now for the unions to form a Labour Representation Committee. Back in February 1996, Workers' Liberty warned: "The Labour Party is now led by open enemies of socialism. That is nothing new. But the present Labour leaders are open enemies of trade-union involvement in running the party, too, that is, of the very character of the Labour Party as it has been for nearly a century...