Unsung Hero: The Jack Jones Story - Trailer

‘Unsung Hero – The Jack Jones Story’ is a documentary on one of the greatest British figures of the past century – a man who exercised more power over government economic policy than any other trades union leader in British history.

Jones took on four of the great evils of modern times: poverty, fascism, worker exploitation and pensioner poverty - and took them on with so much conviction that at one point, the public voted him the most powerful man in Britain. 

The life of Jack Jones mirrors the story of the 20th century - a man whose like we may never see again.

"Future of Trade Unions and the Labour Party"

Last Thursday I was asked to speak to Shacklewell Labour Branch, Hackney North CLP on trade unions and the party by my blogging comrade, Dave Osler. 

There was a little bit of a mix up with the room booking in the local community centre and we ended up at Dave's and his partner Stroppy (daughter of a former Newham Labour Group Chief Whip) apartment, drinking tea and eating their biscuits amidst classic guitars, bags of clothes destined for Calais refugees and bookshelves of "Trotporn" (Dave's description).

I explained that I was a UNISON activist and a member of its NEC and a Labour Councillor in the Peoples Republic of Newham and this talk was in a personal capacity.

I started with one of my favourite stories about the relationship between Labour and trade unions. Famous union leader, Jack Jones, was once asked whether he thought that strains in the relationship would ever lead to a divorce? He thought about this for a moment and then replied "Murder yes, Divorce Never!"

The trade unions formed the Labour Party as its political wing because it realised it needed Parliamentary protection. The relationship has since ebbed and flowed but the tension between trade union and other activists has been there since the beginning. The trade unions lost control of the party leadership as far back as 1911, which resulted in cries of betrayal even then. 

I believe that despite the strains, the trade unions and the party need each other even more now than ever.

The union movement is definitely under threat as never before. The current Tory Reform bill will make industrial action even more difficult and hit membership levels. The unions need legislative protection and the Party needs funding and the political legitimacy that union affiliation and participation provides.

Both wings of the Labour movement family need to raise their game.

The unions need to understand their role and explain things better. As important as personal trade union representation is (and if you are being bullied at work or at risk of losing your job it is vital), membership is not just an insurance policy if you get into trouble at work. Collective bargaining is its number one role. Negotiating with employers about your pay, pensions, employment policies, sickness and holiday benefits is absolutely key.

We also need to recognise that the traditional Anglo-American model of trade unionism is not working and we should look again at other more successful models such as in Germany and Scandinavia. Here unions have greater density and more influence with employers and governments.

In other countries unions also offer real work related benefits such as pensions and employment services, which makes them more relevant to workers. After the second world war British trade unions were offered the opportunity to run UK employment exchanges. They refused.

Unions have also got to understand that just waving cheques at the party is not enough. Trade union members need to get directly involved in their local parties as well as regional and national structures. They need to be in positions of responsibility and advocates of unions and workers' rights within the party.

The party also needs to understand that unions still need political protection from employers and the courts.  The threat and ability to deliver strike action (as a last resort) is as necessary now for the union movement as it was in the past.  The strength of a union up against powerful employers is in its ability to stop work taking place.  If it is unable to deliver strike action due to restrictive laws then the employers will nearly always win and treat workers accordingly. This is one of the main reasons why we have had decades of worsening pay and conditions for workers in this country.

We have to have a more equal playing field between workers and employers rights. The party must provide protection for unions.

Equally, there are many parts of the UK economy such as the care sector where employers are so small and fragmented that it is practically impossible for unions to organise. Wage councils for employers and unions to bargain over pay and conditions should be reintroduced.

Labour needs to attract workers with policies that are directed at the modern UK workplace. I remember being really pleased to attend one of the party policy launch events last year on plans that promised to give employed and self employed workers greater benefits if unemployed or sick. These promises would have reminded workers that the Party of "Labour" was still their Party. Yet these policies seemed to just disappear from the manifesto.

To sum up Labour needs the unions as much as the unions need the party. The unions need an elected government to deliver and the Party needs constructive union help to get elected.

Then followed a pretty wide ranging Q&A not only with me but amongst branch members sharing their own thoughts and experiences about unions and the party.

I really enjoyed the experience and felt at home in this Hackney branch meeting as much as I do in West Ham.  London Labour parties often live in little "bubbles", so it is good to take part in this type of discussion and I hope that some of those present would come to my branch to present about a speciality that they know about.

(Mind you, I suppose I may have to draw a line on a meeting about "trotporn").

Saying Goodbye to Gerry

Long standing West Ham Labour Party member Gerry died a month ago on 20 February.

This is my tribute.

"Last month on the 27 February family and friends remembered and celebrated the long life of Gerald Joseph Carlile at City of London crematorium in Manor Park.

Gerry was born in West Ham in 1931 and apart from National Service in Gibraltar, he lived here all his life.

He was the second youngest of a close knit family of 8 children. Gerry worked for most of his life in Blackwell Power station. When he was there he had to physically shovel coal into the furnaces that powered the electric generators. A hard, hot and dirty job.

Gerry was also a life long member of the Transport and General Workers Union (now Unite) and the Labour Party. He served on a number of union national committees and was an admirer and supporter of its former general secretary, Spanish Civil War International Brigade hero, Jack Jones.

Gerry was a tenant activist who refused on principle to buy his Council flat. He served as West Ham Labour Party disability officer and held numerous other ward and CLP positions.

Gerry was a Socialist who was proud to be British. His coffin was drapped in the Union Jack. He was proud of his Country although he wanted it to change and be fairer. To better look after the vulnerable and especially the elderly and disabled.

He honoured the memory of his older brother John who was killed in action in the Second World War when his ship was sunk by a Nazi submarine.

Like many East Enders he was a staunch supporter of the Royal family. The only time he and I ever had a real falling out was when I happened to mention that I was a republican, for which he made very clear his views and what he thought of those who didn't share them! But afterwards he never  mentioned this again. 

At the service the eulogy was read by Gerry's friend and near neighbour for over 40 years, Cllr Ron Manley.

The final piece of music in the service was of course "God Save the Queen".

Afterwards we went to a excellent buffet and refreshments at the Railway Tavern pub in Stratford.

Many thanks to his family for organising such a wonderful service and T. Cribbs & Sons the funeral Directors and Rev Derek Talbot. Donations to Cancer Research.

Hat tip to Julianne for the photos and her tribute on West Ham Labour blog. 

Blue Plaque for Jack Jones

"Dear all, as it’s 100 years ago this year that Jack Jones was born, it
is appropriate to ask you to support this campaign.

Southwark News and Southwark Historical Society have drawn up a
shortlist of former and current residents and buildings nominated to
have a Blue Plaque dedicated to them. Only one will be successful following a public vote.

The shortlist includes Jack Jones, International Brigader, trade union and pensioners’ leader.

You don’t have to be a resident of Southwark to vote. Email Southwark News saying you’d like to vote for Jack Jones to get the 2013 Blue Plaque.

The email address is news@southwarknews.co.uk  Deadline is 31st October. Please circulate widely" . 

Hat tip via SERTUC.Picture of Jack in Spain (3rd from left). Jack lived in a Council flat in Denmark Hill, Southwark.

Transformation leadership and Trade Unions

This is another plug - but this time for what is probably the most prolific and enthusiastic UK trade union web site UNISONactive for their post on Why Transformational Leadership matters in Trade Unions.

What does the passing of trade union leaders such as Jack Jones (see picture of the International Brigadier) mean?

While I may not totally agree with all the analysis and its conclusions this is really good stuff.

Just fancy – a proper argument put forward about the leadership of trade unions and real working class politics without any of the blinkered sectarian rubbish.

Whatever next!

Roger Mackenzie the blogging West Midlands UNISON regional secretary also likes this discussion.

Jack Jones has died

Just got message from Col. Roi that Jack Jones (see photo with black beret), Trade Union leader, Labour Party supporter and International brigade fighter against fascism has died age 96 last night (Tuesday).

A great man and a great life.

This is a true end of an era.

I’ll post something in more detail later this week.

70th Anniversary – The Return of the British Battalion

On Sunday 7 December it is the 70th anniversary of the disembarkation at the Port of Newhaven of survivors from the British Battalion XV International Brigade (also known as the Clement Attlee Brigade).

They had fought in Spain during the civil war against Franco and the fascists. Of the 2,300 who went to Spain 526 were killed. 7 surviving brigadiers, brigadiers families and supporters will gather at Newhaven Fort to dedicate a bench which will overlook the harbour and be a memorial to those “who remain under Spanish soil”.

Brigade veteran and former trade union leader Jack Jones (see photo) who was wounded in the fighting will also be in attendance. Check out further details here and here.

On 7 December 1938 the Brigade then went off by rail to London where they were greeted at Victoria Station by supporters such as Clem Attlee and Stafford Cripps. There is an obvious link with the arrival a few days previously in Liverpool Street station of the first train full of Kindertransport children fleeing Nazi persecution on 2 December 1938. See this post.

Murder not Divorce? – Labour Party and Trade Unions

It was good to see Tony Woodley (T&G Unite Joint General Secretary) take a well deserved swipe at George Monbiot (photo left - as in extreme) in yesterday’s Guardian. Monbiot, otherwise known as “Moonbat”, is the Stowe public school educated son of a deputy Chair of the Tory Party, who had the cheek in an article on Tuesday, to lecture trade unions on “Class” and affiliation to the Labour Party.

He called trade unions “Turkeys led by chickens, they will never stop voting for Christmas”. He also offensively claims that the unions would still support the Labour Party even if it turned itself into a neo-fascist party!

The “evidence” he presents for this accusation appears to be the appointment of Digby Jones by Brown as a minister promoting trade. I think that this is a wrong decision, however, hardly grounds to disaffiliate.

He confusingly accepts that “some important victories have been won since 1997” e.g. minimum wage, better pension protection etc. But he then dismisses them as unimportant because the so-called “list of defeats” is much longer.

I think that the distain that Monbiot has for such an issue as the living wage is important and gives you an understanding of where he is coming from. If you are brought up in a wealthy middle class family then obviously the issue of low pay is not something that you can relate to in any meaningful way. Unlike trade unionists, who do not usually come from privileged backgrounds. They often have first hand experience of how vitally important the minimum wage is for real families and workers, struggling to keep themselves out of poverty. It is interesting that he also completely ignores tax and pension credits. The huge amount of money that Labour has poured into the pockets of poor people in this way means nothing to him. Obviously more needs to be done, but Monbiot is not concerned about these key working class issues.

Equally the incredible financial stability and relatively high employment rates under Labour is also not apparently of any importance. Neither does he mention the huge resources that a Labour government has pumped into the NHS, schools and children’s services. I have been attacked by some over bringing up this real “class” issue. The argument is that you should only debate the policies not the background of the person. I am sorry but I just cannot agree with this proposition. Attacking the personality of a person is usually wrong but I think politics are personal; they are shaped by your family and your background. I am not saying that middle or upper class people cannot comment on trade union issues. Everyone is entitled to their views, however I would recommend that they stick to what they know – which in Monbiot’ s case would appear to be climate change not trade unions.

Tony Woodley also attacked Monbiot for not proposing any alternative to Labour and ducking the question of whether or not a Tory government was a good thing or not. The RMT and the FBU may have been expelled or left the Party. However, at many Labour Party events I have attended during the last few years there has usually been a “lobby” outside by RMT members leafleting or protesting about various things and asking us to bring up this motion or that. What is the point of them being out of the Party but still turning up to Party events asking for things to be done? As Tony put it “you do not win arguments from the outside”.

It is also a fact that within the Labour Party there is a (small?) body of opinion that would love to end the link between the Party and the unions. They would prefer state funding of parties without any pesky trade unionists making problems.

Now, it is not always sweetness and light in the relationship between trade unions and the Labour party, nor should it be. There are major differences over privatisation, trade union and employment rights etc. When you compare these differences to that between the Tories and trade unions then you realise these differences are small. Trade unions recognise the abyss of Tory rule and also I think many would agree with me that, rightly or wrongly, if the Labour Party is seen to be the “creature” of the trade unions then the Party will never be elected or form another government.

Finally, as Jack Jones, the great leader of the Transport and General Workers' Union said in 1971 when asked to sum up the relationship between unions and the Labour party: He replied that he could imagine "Murder yes, divorce never."

SERTUC International Conference

On Saturday I went to South East Region TUC International conference, held at Congress House, London. Finally, in this age of “globalisation it appears that the trade union movement is starting to wake up about “international issues”. Not just NGO and single issue “pressure group” concerns, but the recognition that mainstream trade unions need to think and act outside narrow national boundaries. In many ways it complimented the "Union Ideas Network" meeting that I went to last month. Many of the same issues were discussed and debated. A running theme of the conference is that “Internationalism” is not just an excuse for a “jolly” abroad of trade union worthies, but should be a core activity.

Tony Benn kicked off the conference talking about “Global Solidarity and the Labour Movement”. I have a soft spot for Tony even thought I have nearly always disagreed with his politics. I enjoyed his reminiscing of being on a British troop ship sailing back to “blighty” after the war. He was at the time a RAF pilot and Labour Party parliamentary candidate in the 1945 elections. He remembered the debates on board on why was it possible to have full employment when the country was at war killing German’s but not in peacetime when they could be building hospitals and schools?

TUC deputy general secretary Frances O’Grady spoke about “Trade Union Internationalism”. Good stuff – internationalism is not just about merging unions, foreign travel, committees and rule books. It is about practical campaigning to organise and promote solidarity.

Professor Keith Ewing (Institute of Employment Rights) spoke about “Workers Rights in the International Context”. He started with the UK which he thought was 1. Becoming a country of minimum standards not decent standards. For example we have a minimum wage but not a living wage, a 48 hour maximum week but the right to work longer etc. 2. The focus on worker rights was changing from being protective or regulatory to now being subject to economic policy. There is an emphasis on increasing Labour supply to meet the demands of globalisation rather than promoting workers interests. 3. British trade union rights still do not meet international ILO standards e.g. ban on all forms of secondary strike action, unions find it difficult to legally expel BNP members etc.

He was also concerned that in the UK only 35 % of workers pay and conditions are protected by collective agreements. In 1979 it was 85%. . The lowest by far in the EU. Austria has 98%! One of the reasons for continued inequality in the UK is that vulnerable workers by definition cannot exercise many of their “legal” employment rights. This makes sense to me. He did however acknowledge the many positive developments such as the Warwick agreement and union learning reps.

Barry Camfield (T&G Unite) “Developing the International Workers Movement”. He started by quoting former T&G leader Jack Jones “you cannot be a trade unionist no matter how hard you try if you do not think as “we” rather than” I”. Barry urged unions to develop “new international strategies” to enable and empower” activists. We should have “action plans” in the same way as global business plan ahead. In 1922 the T&G Dockers declared “Capital is well organised, labour must do like wise”. So back to the future.

The only thing that I was surprised and disappointed about was that there was not mention at all about the role of “Workers Capital” (organising trade union representatives who sit as trustees on our pension funds who actually own relatively big chunks of many national and global companies).

I went to the morning “trade unions in Iraq” workshop. In the workshop the vocal audience were pretty much divided between “Labour Friends of Iraq” (Iraqi trade unionists want coalition troops to leave but not yet since they face slaughter) and “withdraw immediately” (you are causing more problems and deaths by coalition forces remaining). It was interesting to hear the chair, Sue Rogers, describe her surprise (as an anti-war protestor herself) at the support the war had and the continued presence from coalition troops had from Iraqi trade unionists she had met.

I attended the afternoon workshop “Global Bargaining with Global Corporations”. Dave Spooner (general secretary of the IFWEA) started off by pointing out that ethical agreements are all well and good, but do they result in any trade union members being recruited? Need to make sure that global agreements are actually agreed with all the unions involved not just the well organised ones in the “west”. He described the controversial “change to win” union organisers in the US who invest heavily to organise in key targets. Some international trade union associations as not being “fit for purpose”. They need to organise not service (we have heard this argument before), the under funding of global issues by nearly all trade unions.

Stuart Howard (assistant branch secretary of ITWF) gave a positive contribution on the possible strength international trade unions can have due to the modern day “time sensitive” supply lines e.g. the 2001 west coast US Dockers strike. Transport Unions have potentially massive industrial strength and bargaining power if they can organise in international transport “key hubs” (certain ports and airports).

John Fetherston, Unite (T&G) convenor, General Motors Ellesmere Port (a fairly major employer where I grew up) spoke about the difficulties and successes in General Motors European Works Councils. Far more success than failure I thought?

The closing plenary had Colombian trade unionist Asdrual Jimenez (who still had bullets in his back from an right wing assassination attempt), Cuban doctor Juan Carlos Dupuy Nunez, Baljeet Ghale NUT president, UNISON own Keith Sonnet and rousing speech by Rodney Bickerstaffe (Solidar and of course ex-UNISON: seen above with London UNISON deputy convernor Gloria Hanson). Keith stressed the importance of international solidarity while Rodney reminded everyone that this day was also the 139th anniversary of the first meeting of the Trade Union Congress in 1868.