Labour Link Forum report 2009

Please see below report from Val Graham a unison and Labour Representation Committee member.

Unison Labour Link National Forum 2009

What a difference a year makes -two little elections. Well one euro/local election and one Unison NEC election to be precise.

Last year was my first as a delegate to the National Forum. Dave Prentice, reeling from the National Conference move to review the union's political arrangements, spent much of his speech Trot bashing, particularly singling out the Socialist Party. A motion from my region, East Midlands, calling on labour link to consider how to be more discriminating in our relationship with labour MPs present and future was the only motion not passed at the forum, the opposition being led by Ann Black of the National Committee. It would frighten off the poor dears!

This year, Dave Prentice spoke at Conference and at the Forum knowing that the game was up for New Labour and that, according to him. eight members of the Socialist Party had been elected to Unison NEC. There was a bit of SP bashing but mainly Dave outlined a strategy for Unison and the unions as a whole. Not feeding the hand that bites us was a part of this. He took privatisation and specifically NHS privatisation as the keystone, calling on members to campaign for a change of policy in the party and target Labour Link funding to this end. He said he would be calling on the other affiliated unions to do the same and would press unions such as RMT to re-affiliate to the party to join the fight inside. Someone pointed out that Bob Crowe had joined the SLP.

He was critical of attempts by these unions to stand candidates in elections and called for unity around a TU intervention to influence the Labour Manifesto. He said he did not think he could support a manifesto which did not put clear red water between Labour and the Tories on the issue of privatisation.

He said he would be approaching other unions to support a motion to LP Conference on NHS privatisation and that they would seek a restoration of the right to put motions to Labour Conferences, starting this year.

Three ministers spoke at the forum. Delegates made clear their frustration with Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband about privatisation.
What was worrying was their claim that they and Andy Burnham were unaware of the activities of the Competition Panel and the advanced plans to market test PCT services with a view to retaining only 25% in-house. They just could not see what we were concerned about. Delegates looking for inspiration were sadly disappointed.

The only clear red water came from Pensions Minister Angela Eagle who made a clear commitment to retain the LGPS which both Tories and Lib Dems want to scrap, though the commitment was linked to a raising of the retirement age.

During the workshops to discuss Dave Prentice's call on Labour Link,
It was hard to get delegates thinking about a different approach.
In mine, I proposed getting MP,s and PPC.s signed up to the million voices campaign and also to link regional funding to agreed activities which linked Unison with the party and which furthered the unions obectives rather than giving it for constituency development plans .

I hope LRC Unison member find this info useful.

Val Graham, Chesterfield CLP and Unison.

MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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