Crunch issues for TGWU
Socialist Organiser1980sStop the witch-hunt; stop talks with Tories
Transcribed by hand from the printed page.
Probably the most contentious issue at this year's TGWU conference (BDC) will be who the union will back for the Labour Party leadership.
According to media reports, the General Executive Committee will propose recommending Neil Kinnock. Presumably, delegates like myself who will be supporting Eric Heffer, on account of his opposition to witch-hunts and support for the continuation of progressive policies, will find it difficult to get that option in front of the conference.
The right wing will be campaigning for a ballot, which would be fine if the union's record on that kind of exercise was better and the opinions could be adequately presented to the membership. Under present circumstances the BDC is undoubtedly the most representative body of the union, and should take the decision.
In 1981 the platform opposed allowing the conference to decide between Dennis Healey and Tony Benn. The resulting chaos discredited the union. A vote with only one option, however, will be little better.
My branch, the 5/293, has a resolution calling for a policy decision that the BDC should always decide the TGWU's vote in such elections — by means of a recall conference if an election arises in a year when there is no conference.
The BDC will also be important on the witch-hunt, particularly given the probable outcome of the leadership election. There are seven resolutions against the Register, but it will need a big fight if they are to be successful.
The reelection of the Tories makes incomes policy in the event of a Labour government, and the National Economic Assessment, less of an immediate issue. There are, however, four resolutions calling for an incomes policy and twelve calling for free collective bargaining.
It is very important that the union's opposition to incomes policy, established in 1977, is maintained.
Although there are 72 resolutions on unemployment, none put forward any policy which can seriously protect jobs and oppose closures.
The nearest approach is bankrupt policies like the Alternative Economic Strategy and import controls — on which there are eight resolutions.
The GEC resolution says it will give "every assistance" to members fighting job loss, but there are no proposals as to how this can be done.
The GEC also call for "the whole movement to defend the unemployed". Yet they have taken a decision since the last conference which effectively bans the unemployed from joining the union — a decision which must be challenged by the conference.
The biggest group of resolutions in front of the conference are against nuclear weapons, and no doubt a unilateralist line will be adopted. The fight will be for withdrawal from NATO as a nuclear alliance. There is a resolution on this.
The conference has the most extensive group of International resolutions for some years.
There are three resolutions on Lebanon which call among other things for the recognition of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and for the Palestinians' right to self-determination.
Given that the TGWU supported the pro-Palestinian resolution at the Labour Party conference, it should be possible to get a composite of these through.
There are six resolutions on Poland, including one from my own branch calling: for the union to continue to recognise Solidarnosc and not the new state unions; for the end of martial law, the legalisation of Solidarnosc and the release of political prisoners; and for practical assistance to the Solidarity Trade Union Working Group in Britain.
Nicaragua
There are very good resolutions calling for strengthened ties with the Nicaraguan trade union movement and opposition to US backed intervention both in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
A resolution from the 5/822 branch calls for the conference to condemn the "support given to the government's imperialist war against Argentina by the TUC and Labour Party leaders" and "deplores the statement supporting the war made by the General Secretary at the 1982 Scottish TUC which contradicts TGWU policy as well as supporting imperialist ventures."
There are three resolutions on South Africa – two at the level of protest action, calling for mandatory economic sanctions and the ending of dealings with Barclays Bank, while the other calls for solidarity with the victimised workers at Wilson Rowntrees and the sending of a TGWU fact-finding delegation.
In the six resolutions on Ireland, there is no call for troops out. The resolutions call for the right of self-determination for the Irish people and for the repeal of the PTA and the Emergency Powers Act, and the ending of Diplock Courts.
Past practice of TGWU conferences on Ireland, however, make it very unlikely that these issues will be debated in conference.
No doubt the usual, meaningless GEC statement will be brought out to stop all discussion.
One section of the agenda which is a big step forward, is on women's rights. There was not a single resolution at the last conference on women's rights and this item was eventually taken completely off the agenda.
This year, there are nine resolutions which offer between them the possibility of a very good composite.
The same is true of gay rights. It is very important that the three very comprehensive resolutions on this subject are debated at conference.
The 24 anti-Tebbit resolutions reflect the paralysis of the TUC in the face of legislation. Most simply condemn Tebbit and the Tories. The GEC's resolution does call for non-payment of fines, but that is all. It calls on "British trade unionists to carry out their business in the spirit of business as usual" and goes on to make the call they have relied upon for too long, for the repeal of the legislation by the next Labour government.
Some resolutions do give a lead and it is very important that they are supported. The 1/1921 branch calls for industrial action. My own branch calls for industrial action the moment anyone is victimised under the Act and goes on to call for an end to tripartite bodies.
No lead at all is given on privatisation. The public services national committee resolution "resolves to continue the general campaign against privatisation and to support our members directly affected in resisting privatisation plans and win the support of the general public to retain direct labour."
Nothing is said about how members will be supported and nothing is said about tendering, which is condemned in a resolution from the 1/1418 branch.
[Photo: Whose voice will be heard in the TGWU's vote for Labour Party leader – top officials or the rank and file?]