TRADE UNION SOLIDARITY

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: april 2010 :: RMTnews 25 The Trade Union Coordinating Group (TUCG) organised its first delegate convention recently to address the unions’ agenda during and beyond the general election. Around 70 delegates attended from each of the TUCG member unions: BFAWU, FBU, NAPO, NUJ, PCS, POA, RMT, and URTU. Another 10 organisations were admitted by special invitation. The morning session focussing on ‘Crisis, Cuts and Resistance’ was chaired by BFAWU General Secretary Joe Marino and the afternoon session addressing ‘a progressive social agenda’ was chaired by NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear. Resolutions were submitted from unions included a demand that workers should not be made to pay for the economic crisis through job cuts, pay freezes and attacks on terms and conditions and called for co-ordinated industrial action to defend rights. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow moved the RMT motion calling for a special conference to be convened after the election to discuss the fight back. RMT assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski presented the case for the Peoples Charter. Executive committee member Olly New used his contribution to urge full support for the national march to defend the welfare state and public services. Other resolutions passed included a call for extra resources for the Health and Safety Executive, repeal of the anti-union laws and the creation of an information network to help build the trade union case for a fight back against unemployment. All RMT delegates were able to speak and there was a range of invited guest speakers. Graham Turner of the Left Economic Advisory Panel (LEAP) spoke about the economy; PCS NEC member Zita Holbourne spoke on equalities; Professor Keith Ewing spoke on trade union rights; and Will McMahon of the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies spoke on criminal justice. The consensus was that the day was highly productive with vibrant discussion and contributions from the floor from delegates as well as representatives of Hope Not Hate, Unite Against Fascism, Stop the War Coalition, and Defend Council Housing. drive ad TRADE UNION SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY: Tade Union general secretaries campaigning in defence of public services