Monday, March 12, 2007

Who do Trade Unions Represent? Part II


A little while ago I brought up the subject of democracy and representation in some trade union branches. There was a fairly wide range of posts on the issue and various solutions offered. I thought that I may update you on an interesting development.

On Wednesday it's our branch's AGM. This is supposed to be a very important meeting, to agree the branch accounts, report back to members and hold any contested elections. Normally there is a guest speaker. Last Friday our branch Chair emailed the branch committee and said that the office had been unable to get John Cruddas MP as a speaker so he suggested that a speaker from "Stop the War" (STW) be invited. He indicated that he was consulting on this issue. I didn't see the email until Saturday and I then sent the following reply.

"I think that everyone is aware that I do not support STW (and that the branch/UNISON is unfortunately affiliated to it) However, didn't we have a STW speaker last year? I don't think that such sectarian speakers will encourage members to attend. I appreciate this is late, but what about trying to get Glyn Jenkins (UNISON pensions) to talk about the new LGPS scheme or someone from UNISON Welfare to talk about the important work that they do? John Gray

I did not get a reply but today I did receive a flyer for the AGM. The speaker this year is Linsey German "Stop the War Coalition". For further information I have copied her entry from Wikipedia (the free on-line independent Encyclopedia)

"Lindsey German is a British Trotskyist politician and member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Workers' Party. Joining the International Socialists in the 1970s German became a full timer for the group by 1977 and has been employed by the organisation continuously since then. She was editor of Socialist Review for twenty years until 2004.

When George Galloway was expelled by the Labour Party, German was a supporter of the move to form RESPECT The Unity Coalition, which includes the SWP and other opponents of the war in Iraq. She is Convener of the Stop the War Coalition and was the Respect candidate for Mayor of London in 2004 and for West Ham, London in the 2005 general elections coming second with 19.5% of the vote. She is the author of numerous books and articles including;
The Balkans: Nationalism and Imperialism (editor),
Sex, Class & Socialism,
Why We Need A Revolutionary Party
Socialists and Class ,
Stop the War: The story of Britain's biggest mass movement, (editor with Andrew Murray),
Frederick Engels
Theories of Patriarchy
Reflections on the Communist Manifesto".

nuf said?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Comrade

a mutual comrade referred me to your recent SWP posting

of course this is the same SWP

who not only wanted to stop this war, but also Afghanistan, Balkans

Galloway opposed UN going in to stop genocide in Dafur stating it was a "local misunderstanding"

the same SWP who state WW2 was an "imperialist war".....what, the war against Nazi Germany imperialism?
don't shout about that too much

and of course the same Lindsey German who has refused (despite requests) to condemn the American 9/11 bombings

the same Lindsey German who said gay rights were secondary to Muslim rights (see CPGB web site)

the same SWP who wanted separate prayers at Marxism and Respect conference 2006 for men and women

the same SWP who stated in the final analysis democracy will come through a bullet not the ballot box

John Gray said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I was at that meeting and thought it was a pity so much time was wasted listening to Lindsay German then taking a rambling motion on "say no to Islamophobia" which didn't commit anyone to doing anything (and seriously at a unison meeting is anyone likely to want to say yes to islamophobia) accompanied by much shouting and pointing from the chair whose obsession with dissing the Labour Party borders on the pathological.

John Gray said...

thanks anon - I will post something on that motion as soon as I can.

Mikeybear said...

John

What is the relevance of Enver Hoxha?

Mikey

John Gray said...

Hi Mickey
A very good comrade of mine who will remain forever remain anonymous ( Monty Matty) did telephone me to ask why I kept posting pictures of Harold Wilson!

To find out the relevance of Enver I would suggest that you look closer to home....

Anonymous said...

Of course the SWP did finally condemn the London bombing (not New York)

However Rahul Patel still insisted in putting a motion to regional council re the bombers in the numbers/list of innocents killed