Trotskyism on trial
From this weeks The Socialist
Trade union activists expect class bias in the courts and employment tribunals. But rarely has a tribunal delivered such a blatantly biased judgment based on class interest. The employment tribunal judge declared open season for the persecution of Trotskyists, whom he considers "unworthy of protection" in a democratic society.
Lynn Walsh
The case of the Unison four is now well-known in Unison and throughout the trade union movement. Their 'crime' was issuing a leaflet criticising the standing orders committee (SOC) for excluding vital branch resolutions from discussion at the 2007 Unison conference.
They were accused of racism and disrespect to the SOC. Subsequently, the four have been suspended from office for periods of up to five years.
As one line of defence, the four took an action under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations on the grounds that they were discriminated against as well-known Socialist Party members and because of their Marxist-Trotskyist beliefs. However, the tribunal (presided over by Mr Weiniger) rejected the four's claims on several different grounds.
But the outrageous core of the judgment is that Marxist-Trotskyist beliefs, even if they generally come under the regulations, are repugnant and not worthy of protection in a democratic society. This, in effect, is a declaration of an open season for witch-hunting Trotskyists and other leftwingers in Unison and other unions.
Yet, despite the judgment, the hearings brought to light the full extent of the Unison leadership's manoeuvres. For instance, the judgment finds that the reply of Dave Prentis (Unison general secretary) to a questionnaire from the four "was inaccurate". Prentis wrote that neither he nor other officials were aware of the political beliefs and/or political party membership of those involved in producing the leaflet. The judge found that Prentis and other officials did, in fact, know: "Answers given by Mr Prentis in the questionnaire... were untrue."
Illegal strikes
One reason, according to the ET judge, that Trotskyists are not worthy of respect is that their "principles allow for breach of the law". The four, he complained, are willing to "engage in unlawful strikes" - unacceptable in a democratic society.
Trotskyists uphold all democratic rights: the right to free assembly and speech, the right to vote, and the right to organise in independent trade unions. The historical record shows, however, that these rights were won through struggle, in many cases in defiance of existing laws and in the face of repression.
Recent governments, both Tory and New Labour, have launched an assault on long-standing rights. The threat of terrorism, for instance, has been used to reintroduce draconian stop-and-search laws and unprecedented powers of state surveillance.
When it comes to trade union rights, Britain has arguably the most restrictive laws of any advanced industrial country. Shortly before Christmas, for example, British Airways cabin staff voted overwhelmingly to take strike action against massive job losses and pay cuts, by 92% on a turnout of over 80%. Despite this overwhelming support, a court ruled that the strike was illegal because of technical infringements in the balloting procedure.
This is the equivalent of the infamous Taff Vale case in 1901 - a move to financially cripple any union taking effective strike action. This attempt by the courts and the state to restrict trade unions led to a more intensive struggle to widen trade union rights and gain independent political representation for the unions.
In Britain today, workers are more and more forced to breach anti-trade union laws in order to take effective action to defend jobs and conditions. For instance, the strike of the Lindsey oil refinery and other engineering construction workers last year - organised democratically from below through a rank-and-file strike committee - broke through the legal restraints.
Three houses?
Another reason for Trotskyist views not being worthy of protection, according to the ET judge, is that they allow for "the deprivation of home and property from the individual". He took exception to a comment made during the ET that it is not acceptable for someone to own three houses when many people do not have a decent home. He clearly favours the accumulation of wealth through acquiring property.
Yet a recent opinion survey, commissioned by the Prince's Trust, of unemployed young people - currently one in five, nearly a million are out of work - said they believed they would never be able to buy their own home.
The judge also asserts that a socialist state would be an authoritarian state which would inflexibly allocate necessities like housing without reference to the needs of individuals.
In Stalinist states, like the former Soviet Union, housing was undoubtedly allocated by the bureaucracy on an arbitrary basis, without regard for the needs of workers and their families. But that is not at all what Trotskyists, who have always been distinguished by opposition to Stalinism, envisage in a socialist society.
Socialist democracy, with election of all political leaders and state officials, together with management of the economy by democratically elected management boards, would ensure the allocation of housing met the particular needs of all families and individuals.
Reward for endeavour?
The essence of the law for this judge is that it should guarantee "freedom of choice and of procuring reward for endeavour" for the individual. Trotskyists are not opposed to "reward for endeavour". We do not advocate a crude levelling. But we are opposed to an economic system that produces gross inequalities of wealth and income.
Tony Blair, whose New Labour government promoted free-market policies and presided over a grotesque growth of inequality, bought his third house, "a small stately home" in Buckinghamshire for £5.75 million. This was in addition to his two London houses in Connaught Square, for which he paid £4.45 million. Is this situation "worthy of respect in a democratic society"?
A new survey commissioned by the government reveals that the richest 10% of the population are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10%. "The top 10%, led by higher professionals, had amassed wealth of £2.2 million, including property and pension assets, by the time they drew close to retirement (age 55-64), while the bottom 10% of households, led by routine manual workers, had amassed less than £8,000" (The Guardian, 27 January 2010). Does this square with any idea of social justice?
Capitalism is based on the exploitation of the working class. Wealth is more and more concentrated into the hands of the ruling class and its associates. The ET judge's approach to the law is based on defence of 'individual rights' abstracted from real society. In practice, this means the right to accumulate property and income, regardless of its effect on wider society or the majority of the population.
Revolution
In his judgment, Mr Weiniger asserts that the kind of society desired by Trotskyists would be an authoritarian state that would expropriate the property of individuals and impose rigid conditions on society. This assertion was embodied in the judgment despite the fact that there was no examination of this issue during the course of the tribunal.
The judge has arbitrarily decided that the kind of state envisaged by Trotskyists would be, in fact, a Stalinist type state, totalitarian, lacking democracy, imposing rigid conditions on society from above.
According to the judge, the views of the four, if implemented, would "deprive [the] individual of his or her rights and freedoms by the imposition of government practicing such extreme or repugnant views".
What distinguishes Trotskyism as a political trend is its implacable opposition towards Stalinism, the bureaucratic, totalitarian deformation of a state based on the ideas of Marx. When Trotsky participated in the Soviet government after the 1917 revolution, it was based on democratic workers', soldiers' and peasants' soviets. However, its democratic character at that time did not prevent the US and European powers, including Britain, sending armies of intervention to try to destroy the new Soviet state and restore the tsarist autocracy. However, from 1923, Trotsky led an opposition to the bureaucratic degeneration of the Soviet state, and in particular the policies and totalitarian methods of Stalin.
The Left Opposition led by Trotsky stood for the democratisation of the state with the election of all representatives and officials, subject to the right of recall, and limitations on their salaries. He also stood for workers' control and management in industry, and opposed the ruthless top-down economic methods of Stalin's regime.
As a response to this opposition, Trotsky, his family, and many thousands of supporters faced repression from Stalin's regime. Tens of thousands of supporters of the Left Opposition were executed or died in labour camps. Trotsky himself was assassinated by Stalin.
According to Mr Weiniger: "the fundamental essence of revolution is undemocratic, as it supposes the change of government by means outside the constitutionally structured democratic process".
But, as Trotsky himself explained many times, revolutions are not brought about by small groups of conspirators, or just by political parties alone. We are against undemocratic coups d'état. Revolutions arise from a fundamental crisis in society and a breakdown of the established structures of government.
In an advanced capitalist country like Britain, a successful socialist transformation could only be carried through on the basis of the overwhelming mass support of the population. Trotskyists advocate socialist democracy, not totalitarian rule. This would mean the democratic election of a workers' government, together with the election of all state officials, subject to the right of recall, and limitations on salaries.
Trotskyists believe that a socialist planned economy should be managed by democratically elected planning bodies, including representatives of consumers and society at large. We advocate democratic workers' control and management of industry. We reject the repressive methods of Stalinism, and support the freedom of all political parties, apart from fascists.
Conclusion
We are on the verge of massive class battles, as the crisis of British and world capitalism develops. The offloading of the banks' losses onto the public sector threatens massive job losses and cuts in public services. The Unison leadership has no idea of how to effectively resist the onslaught and defend workers' interests. It will come under increasing pressure from the membership, which is demanding democratisation of the union and a determined fight against attacks.
The employment tribunal, through its judgment, has tried to hand the Unison leadership a lifeline, justifying a purge of the left. This will not succeed. Far from being seen as "repugnant", or held in contempt, or seen as "unacceptable in a democratic society", the four, together with Socialist Party members and other left activists, are held in the highest esteem by Unison members. The fight to lift the ban on the four will continue, as will the drive to democratise the union and equip it with fighting policies capable of defending public-sector workers and the wider interests of the working class.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Unison general secretary election: Fighting leadership needed!
From this weeks The Socialist
Whoever wins the general election, members of Britain's largest public sector union Unison, like all other public service workers, are in for a hard time. All three capitalist parties have declared their intention to make the working class pay for the financial crisis through attacks on jobs, pay, pensions and public services.
Roger Bannister, with over 33 years of trade union experience and activity, is standing for general secretary of Unison. If elected he will lead Unison members, along with other public sector workers to fight against these attacks.
The union's leadership has to date failed to use the union's full strength to maximum effect. In fact it has signed disastrous deals, such as the Single Status Agreement, instead of fighting for decent pay. Now thousands of Unison members, mainly women, face pay cuts in the name of equal pay!
See Roger's blog here http://rogerbannister-unison.blogspot.com/
Whoever wins the general election, members of Britain's largest public sector union Unison, like all other public service workers, are in for a hard time. All three capitalist parties have declared their intention to make the working class pay for the financial crisis through attacks on jobs, pay, pensions and public services.
Roger Bannister, with over 33 years of trade union experience and activity, is standing for general secretary of Unison. If elected he will lead Unison members, along with other public sector workers to fight against these attacks.
The union's leadership has to date failed to use the union's full strength to maximum effect. In fact it has signed disastrous deals, such as the Single Status Agreement, instead of fighting for decent pay. Now thousands of Unison members, mainly women, face pay cuts in the name of equal pay!
See Roger's blog here http://rogerbannister-unison.blogspot.com/
Greenwich Unison backs victimised branch secretary
From this weeks The Socialist
THE 2010 annual meeting (AGM) of the Greenwich Unison branch has unanimously backed Onay Kasab, the witch-hunted secretary of the branch who currently faces a three-year ban from holding office in the union.
Members angrily denounced the ban at the packed meeting - yet Unison claims that it is taking the action against the four Socialist Party members in the name of ordinary members!
As though to rub salt in the wound, that same morning the union office received a leaflet from current general secretary Dave Prentis asking that the branch nominate him in the general secretary election. Prentis says in his statement that the union is a "democratic and member led union that takes its lead from our members". So why has he ignored the deluge of protest letters sent to him demanding an end to the witch-hunt?
The AGM heard from Onay about the huge fight ahead against the expected attack on public services and how we need strong, campaigning, militant unions to defend jobs and services. He told the meeting that despite the ban, the priority was the union branch. He asked members who were ready to resign in protest not to do so and instead to stay and fight on.
The meeting heard about the outstanding history of the branch over the past 13 years, winning new recruits and activists by fighting and winning campaigns for members.
Members praised the work done by Onay and the branch under his leadership. One shop steward stood up on behalf of his members in grounds maintenance and said: "From everybody on our section we want to say thank you because without you and what you have done for us we would not be here today."
This was an extremely emotional meeting, with many members moved to tears. It ended with a standing ovation by every single person.
See also Trotskyism on Trial and Fighting Leadership needed - nominate Roger Bannister.
THE 2010 annual meeting (AGM) of the Greenwich Unison branch has unanimously backed Onay Kasab, the witch-hunted secretary of the branch who currently faces a three-year ban from holding office in the union.
Members angrily denounced the ban at the packed meeting - yet Unison claims that it is taking the action against the four Socialist Party members in the name of ordinary members!
As though to rub salt in the wound, that same morning the union office received a leaflet from current general secretary Dave Prentis asking that the branch nominate him in the general secretary election. Prentis says in his statement that the union is a "democratic and member led union that takes its lead from our members". So why has he ignored the deluge of protest letters sent to him demanding an end to the witch-hunt?
The AGM heard from Onay about the huge fight ahead against the expected attack on public services and how we need strong, campaigning, militant unions to defend jobs and services. He told the meeting that despite the ban, the priority was the union branch. He asked members who were ready to resign in protest not to do so and instead to stay and fight on.
The meeting heard about the outstanding history of the branch over the past 13 years, winning new recruits and activists by fighting and winning campaigns for members.
Members praised the work done by Onay and the branch under his leadership. One shop steward stood up on behalf of his members in grounds maintenance and said: "From everybody on our section we want to say thank you because without you and what you have done for us we would not be here today."
This was an extremely emotional meeting, with many members moved to tears. It ended with a standing ovation by every single person.
See also Trotskyism on Trial and Fighting Leadership needed - nominate Roger Bannister.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Greenwich Socialist Party says NO to public sector cuts
DEFEND OUR PUBLIC SERVICES-NO CUTS
MAKE COUNCILLORS PAY AT THE BALLOT BOX
DEFEND OUR UNION BRANCH
STOP THE WITCH-HUNT
Up and down the country, local councils, be they Labour, Tory or Liberal Democrats are cutting our services and axing our jobs. Even Councillors from the Green Party have a record of voting for cuts. Where the BNP have been elected, their councillors have been ineffective and they have voted in favour of cuts.
This is in stark contrast to Socialist Party councillors who have not just consistently voted against cuts, but have led community campaigns outside of the council chamber. In Lewisham, Socialist Party councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood played a leading part in the successful campaign to stop the sell-off of council housing in New Cross and have supported the campaign to stop the closure of Deptford Job Centre.
Now, more than ever, we need councillors willing to fight for our jobs and our service. A recent confidential report from the Greenwich Council Labour group proposes the following:
Over £30 million of cuts to jobs and services
A “review”- in other words cuts- of terms and conditions for council staff; in particular evening and weekend working costs.
Reviewing sickness absence levels
Increased “productivity”. This means working harder but for no more pay!
Review all council services with a view to transfer to the trading company; a first step to privatisation
Review “Social care”, to consider “enterprise models” and “shared services”. This is about outsourcing social services.
Review of low priority activity. This means cutting non-statutory services.
The cutback will not be limited to council staff. The public will also suffer. For instance the report states:
“Review of eligibility criteria beyond care services” “ Restricted access to services” and incredibly “examine options to reduce demand and volume”.
We can’t accept this! Council workers will have to fight to save our jobs, wages, pensions and conditions. But public service workers should not have to fight alone. We all rely on essential public services. We have to be prepared to fight alongside those who also use our services.
In Greenwich, the UNISON branch has been at the forefront of fighting cuts to services and attacks on council staff. Once again, the UNISON branch is preparing to take a leading role. But the union leadership at a national level are tied to new Labour. They see the re-election of a Labour government as a priority.
That is why UNISON branch secretary and Socialist Party member Onay Kasab is still being attacked by the union leadership. He still faces suspension from office as a result of a vicious and brutal witch-hunt conducted by fulltime officials who want to make the union safe for new Labour. No trade unionist wants to see the election of a vicious anti-working class Tory government. But to simply argue that Labour would be a lesser evil will not do.
Whether there are 100 or 500 job losses as a result of cuts in Greenwich is not relevant. Our principle is that an injury to one is an injury to all. It is this unity that has allowed us to win our past campaigns. That is why every working class community threatened with cuts and privatisation should stand trade union, socialist or community activist candidates against the big parties at next May’s council elections
MAKE THE CUTTERS PAY AT THE BALLOT BOX
SAVE OUR SERVICES
If you would like to help in our work to build a campaign for a new workers party, to break the trade unions from New Labour then join us
Socialist Party demands:
-No public sector cuts
- No compulsory redundancies and cuts in wages, terms and conditions for public sector staff
- For a programme of public works to fight the scourges of unemployment and poverty, with local councils mounting a campaign to demand money from the national government if necessary
-For a new mass workers party to expose and replace the rotten politics of the mainstream parties.
MAKE COUNCILLORS PAY AT THE BALLOT BOX
DEFEND OUR UNION BRANCH
STOP THE WITCH-HUNT
Up and down the country, local councils, be they Labour, Tory or Liberal Democrats are cutting our services and axing our jobs. Even Councillors from the Green Party have a record of voting for cuts. Where the BNP have been elected, their councillors have been ineffective and they have voted in favour of cuts.
This is in stark contrast to Socialist Party councillors who have not just consistently voted against cuts, but have led community campaigns outside of the council chamber. In Lewisham, Socialist Party councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood played a leading part in the successful campaign to stop the sell-off of council housing in New Cross and have supported the campaign to stop the closure of Deptford Job Centre.
Now, more than ever, we need councillors willing to fight for our jobs and our service. A recent confidential report from the Greenwich Council Labour group proposes the following:
Over £30 million of cuts to jobs and services
A “review”- in other words cuts- of terms and conditions for council staff; in particular evening and weekend working costs.
Reviewing sickness absence levels
Increased “productivity”. This means working harder but for no more pay!
Review all council services with a view to transfer to the trading company; a first step to privatisation
Review “Social care”, to consider “enterprise models” and “shared services”. This is about outsourcing social services.
Review of low priority activity. This means cutting non-statutory services.
The cutback will not be limited to council staff. The public will also suffer. For instance the report states:
“Review of eligibility criteria beyond care services” “ Restricted access to services” and incredibly “examine options to reduce demand and volume”.
We can’t accept this! Council workers will have to fight to save our jobs, wages, pensions and conditions. But public service workers should not have to fight alone. We all rely on essential public services. We have to be prepared to fight alongside those who also use our services.
In Greenwich, the UNISON branch has been at the forefront of fighting cuts to services and attacks on council staff. Once again, the UNISON branch is preparing to take a leading role. But the union leadership at a national level are tied to new Labour. They see the re-election of a Labour government as a priority.
That is why UNISON branch secretary and Socialist Party member Onay Kasab is still being attacked by the union leadership. He still faces suspension from office as a result of a vicious and brutal witch-hunt conducted by fulltime officials who want to make the union safe for new Labour. No trade unionist wants to see the election of a vicious anti-working class Tory government. But to simply argue that Labour would be a lesser evil will not do.
Whether there are 100 or 500 job losses as a result of cuts in Greenwich is not relevant. Our principle is that an injury to one is an injury to all. It is this unity that has allowed us to win our past campaigns. That is why every working class community threatened with cuts and privatisation should stand trade union, socialist or community activist candidates against the big parties at next May’s council elections
MAKE THE CUTTERS PAY AT THE BALLOT BOX
SAVE OUR SERVICES
If you would like to help in our work to build a campaign for a new workers party, to break the trade unions from New Labour then join us
Socialist Party demands:
-No public sector cuts
- No compulsory redundancies and cuts in wages, terms and conditions for public sector staff
- For a programme of public works to fight the scourges of unemployment and poverty, with local councils mounting a campaign to demand money from the national government if necessary
-For a new mass workers party to expose and replace the rotten politics of the mainstream parties.
Unison black members reject witch-hunt
"Unless Mr Kasab and his colleagues are punished, black Unison members can have no confidence in the union fighting racism." These were the words of the Unison national officer who acted as the prosecution in the union's case against four Socialist Party members.
A Unison member
Yet, in the first week of the attacks, in June 2007, a black Unison member told the Socialist Party fringe meeting at the union's national conference: "They are not going to use the colour of my skin for their own purposes."
From the outset, the union leadership have been prepared to misuse the issue of racism. The long campaign to defend the four has shown that this is in fact a political witch-hunt.
Black members in Greenwich Unison have been to the forefront in expressing outrage at the charges against their Unison branch secretary, Onay Kasab. Many have said that if the ban on him holding union office is upheld, they will have no hesitation in resigning their union membership.
A recent meeting of Unison's national black members' committee was attended by general secretary Dave Prentis. There are over 260 BNP members in the union and he was questioned about the lack of action on this. Members also called for the union to reconsider its action against the four, as the sanctions were too harsh.
Then last week Unison held its annual national black members' conference. Onay Kasab was the delegate from Greenwich. He spoke in the debate on fighting the BNP about his role in leading the strike action at Hither Green back in 1988 against the fascist Skeggs and the role of Greenwich Unison in the campaign to close the BNP headquarters in Welling. Both campaigns were successful.
He told the conference that as a result he had received racist hate mail and had been targeted by racists. Finally he spoke of the scandal of the lack of action against the BNP members in Unison. He compared this with the treatment of the four and demanded an end to the witch-hunt.
He received several ovations during the three minutes he was allowed to speak. This obviously frustrated the general secretary who was sitting behind the podium. Several delegates reported that his face looked like thunder!
Delegate after delegate approached Kas after his speech, to congratulate him and to condemn the witch-hunt.
A Unison member
Yet, in the first week of the attacks, in June 2007, a black Unison member told the Socialist Party fringe meeting at the union's national conference: "They are not going to use the colour of my skin for their own purposes."
From the outset, the union leadership have been prepared to misuse the issue of racism. The long campaign to defend the four has shown that this is in fact a political witch-hunt.
Black members in Greenwich Unison have been to the forefront in expressing outrage at the charges against their Unison branch secretary, Onay Kasab. Many have said that if the ban on him holding union office is upheld, they will have no hesitation in resigning their union membership.
A recent meeting of Unison's national black members' committee was attended by general secretary Dave Prentis. There are over 260 BNP members in the union and he was questioned about the lack of action on this. Members also called for the union to reconsider its action against the four, as the sanctions were too harsh.
Then last week Unison held its annual national black members' conference. Onay Kasab was the delegate from Greenwich. He spoke in the debate on fighting the BNP about his role in leading the strike action at Hither Green back in 1988 against the fascist Skeggs and the role of Greenwich Unison in the campaign to close the BNP headquarters in Welling. Both campaigns were successful.
He told the conference that as a result he had received racist hate mail and had been targeted by racists. Finally he spoke of the scandal of the lack of action against the BNP members in Unison. He compared this with the treatment of the four and demanded an end to the witch-hunt.
He received several ovations during the three minutes he was allowed to speak. This obviously frustrated the general secretary who was sitting behind the podium. Several delegates reported that his face looked like thunder!
Delegate after delegate approached Kas after his speech, to congratulate him and to condemn the witch-hunt.
Angry reaction to Unison witch-hunt
From 20th Jan edition of The Socialist
Four Socialist Party members who are members of Unison, Brian Debus, Glenn Kelly, Suzanne Muna and Onay Kasab, are being witch-hunted by their own union. At the moment the outcome of their appeals to Unison against suspensions from holding union office is awaited, as is the decision of an Employment Tribunal.
Hundreds of angry Unison members and other trade unionists have complained to Unison's leadership during the course of the witch-hunt. These are excerpts from a few of their emails and letters.
"I write to express my disappointment at the union's decision to ban someone like Brian who has worked tirelessly to support staff in Hackney for so many years.
I am not a particularly political person but I would defend anyone's right to vote and campaign freely and without prejudice or sanction...
Having been a Unison member for over 13 years I am now questioning whether this is a group I would want to belong to."
"I have never heard a complaint about [Brian] from other people. I could not believe that he could be accused of committing a racist offence even by his own trade union. I myself cannot accept any such accusations against him as a member of this union."
Hackney Unison members
"I have followed the disciplinary case against Onay Kasab aka Kas with some interest particularly as I have been a member of Greenwich Unison for about 16 years.
I was shocked to find out that he has been suspended from holding office for three years.
Although I don't share his politics 100% I have found Kas to be a very hard-working trade unionist and a very able branch secretary. I have seen quotes from the likes of Rory Bremner and Mark Thomas that Unison is making itself look foolish, stupid and authoritarian and I agree with them."
"I am very worried that the integrity of our union is under threat. My opinion is that this is a flagrant misuse of my union subscription for political cleansing.
I would ask you what measures are being taken to ensure a democratic union? I would ask you what measures are being taken to ensure a legal, even-handed and respectful union?"
Greenwich Unison members
"I would have thought that the union should respect the democratic wishes of the ordinary members who have repeatedly re-elected them [the witch-hunted four].
The disciplinary committee are out of touch with the members and are themselves bringing the union into disrepute in the eyes of the members whose actual jobs, wages and conditions are under the worst attack we have faced in decades.
The only people who will take solace from this are the out of touch NEC members and the bosses. It will do nothing to inspire the members I represent that the union leadership is serious about fighting the real enemy - the bosses and government who are trying to cut the jobs, wages and conditions."
Ronnie Stevenson, Glasgow Unison, personal capacity
"I hear today that the four have been found guilty, this beggars belief! This decision could have a profoundly negative effect on members, many of whom in my own branch are totally disillusioned with the union nationally and would view this as no more than a bloody minded and spiteful attack on four honest and genuine union representatives who have a proud record of standing up for their members' interests no matter what their ethnic background.
Maybe that was their true crime, because by their actions in fighting for the most vulnerable in society, for fighting against low wages and privatisation, and by their past record of fighting and putting real alternatives to the scourge of the BNP and of exposing the fraud that is New Labour, they have shamed a spineless and impotent union bureaucracy, a bureaucracy that despite recent sound bites is in shameful collusion with a morally bankrupt New Labour government, and offers no alternative to the issues that affect the day to day existence of ordinary - dare I say - working class people, ...but then life is just more comfortable that way isn't it?"
A Unison health member
"I have been appalled over the last few years at the lengths to which certain people in Unison have gone to try to discredit Glenn Kelly and his three colleagues.
I am a Unison member in Bromley and have always thought the charges spurious, brought to fulfil some hidden agenda.
Now the tribunal has revealed that certain people do have a hidden agenda - I ask you to immediately organise an independent enquiry into the allegations...
Our union must be shown to be democratic and fair and above board in all its dealings otherwise people will leave in droves over this and good people will be unwilling to stand for office. How can we stand against other organisations/people where unfairness and dishonesty rule when we are just as bad?"
A Bromley Unison member
"We cannot afford to lose the input of these activists with a Conservative government on the horizon. At present we are fighting job cuts, offshoring and low pay rises in our industry. These are our priorities, not spending Unison resources investigating so-called rule breaches like this one."
Unison South West Gas branch committee
"The racism slur does not stand up to the slightest scrutiny and would be almost comical, were it not so damaging to the good names of these activists and the sentence returned so severe.
As for the charge of attacking the integrity of the Standing Orders Committee, I cannot see that this serves any purpose; least of all Unison or the Committee themselves.
What has Unison got to fear from open debate? Dragging names through mud on trumped up charges and the crushing of dissenting voices are not the sign of a strong organisation at ease with itself."
"I am urging you to remove the charges from my branch secretary and the other three activists. On a personal level, I would not want to continue to belong to a union which treats its members in this mean spirited and manifestly unjust way."
Unison, Tenant Services Authority members
Four Socialist Party members who are members of Unison, Brian Debus, Glenn Kelly, Suzanne Muna and Onay Kasab, are being witch-hunted by their own union. At the moment the outcome of their appeals to Unison against suspensions from holding union office is awaited, as is the decision of an Employment Tribunal.
Hundreds of angry Unison members and other trade unionists have complained to Unison's leadership during the course of the witch-hunt. These are excerpts from a few of their emails and letters.
"I write to express my disappointment at the union's decision to ban someone like Brian who has worked tirelessly to support staff in Hackney for so many years.
I am not a particularly political person but I would defend anyone's right to vote and campaign freely and without prejudice or sanction...
Having been a Unison member for over 13 years I am now questioning whether this is a group I would want to belong to."
"I have never heard a complaint about [Brian] from other people. I could not believe that he could be accused of committing a racist offence even by his own trade union. I myself cannot accept any such accusations against him as a member of this union."
Hackney Unison members
"I have followed the disciplinary case against Onay Kasab aka Kas with some interest particularly as I have been a member of Greenwich Unison for about 16 years.
I was shocked to find out that he has been suspended from holding office for three years.
Although I don't share his politics 100% I have found Kas to be a very hard-working trade unionist and a very able branch secretary. I have seen quotes from the likes of Rory Bremner and Mark Thomas that Unison is making itself look foolish, stupid and authoritarian and I agree with them."
"I am very worried that the integrity of our union is under threat. My opinion is that this is a flagrant misuse of my union subscription for political cleansing.
I would ask you what measures are being taken to ensure a democratic union? I would ask you what measures are being taken to ensure a legal, even-handed and respectful union?"
Greenwich Unison members
"I would have thought that the union should respect the democratic wishes of the ordinary members who have repeatedly re-elected them [the witch-hunted four].
The disciplinary committee are out of touch with the members and are themselves bringing the union into disrepute in the eyes of the members whose actual jobs, wages and conditions are under the worst attack we have faced in decades.
The only people who will take solace from this are the out of touch NEC members and the bosses. It will do nothing to inspire the members I represent that the union leadership is serious about fighting the real enemy - the bosses and government who are trying to cut the jobs, wages and conditions."
Ronnie Stevenson, Glasgow Unison, personal capacity
"I hear today that the four have been found guilty, this beggars belief! This decision could have a profoundly negative effect on members, many of whom in my own branch are totally disillusioned with the union nationally and would view this as no more than a bloody minded and spiteful attack on four honest and genuine union representatives who have a proud record of standing up for their members' interests no matter what their ethnic background.
Maybe that was their true crime, because by their actions in fighting for the most vulnerable in society, for fighting against low wages and privatisation, and by their past record of fighting and putting real alternatives to the scourge of the BNP and of exposing the fraud that is New Labour, they have shamed a spineless and impotent union bureaucracy, a bureaucracy that despite recent sound bites is in shameful collusion with a morally bankrupt New Labour government, and offers no alternative to the issues that affect the day to day existence of ordinary - dare I say - working class people, ...but then life is just more comfortable that way isn't it?"
A Unison health member
"I have been appalled over the last few years at the lengths to which certain people in Unison have gone to try to discredit Glenn Kelly and his three colleagues.
I am a Unison member in Bromley and have always thought the charges spurious, brought to fulfil some hidden agenda.
Now the tribunal has revealed that certain people do have a hidden agenda - I ask you to immediately organise an independent enquiry into the allegations...
Our union must be shown to be democratic and fair and above board in all its dealings otherwise people will leave in droves over this and good people will be unwilling to stand for office. How can we stand against other organisations/people where unfairness and dishonesty rule when we are just as bad?"
A Bromley Unison member
"We cannot afford to lose the input of these activists with a Conservative government on the horizon. At present we are fighting job cuts, offshoring and low pay rises in our industry. These are our priorities, not spending Unison resources investigating so-called rule breaches like this one."
Unison South West Gas branch committee
"The racism slur does not stand up to the slightest scrutiny and would be almost comical, were it not so damaging to the good names of these activists and the sentence returned so severe.
As for the charge of attacking the integrity of the Standing Orders Committee, I cannot see that this serves any purpose; least of all Unison or the Committee themselves.
What has Unison got to fear from open debate? Dragging names through mud on trumped up charges and the crushing of dissenting voices are not the sign of a strong organisation at ease with itself."
"I am urging you to remove the charges from my branch secretary and the other three activists. On a personal level, I would not want to continue to belong to a union which treats its members in this mean spirited and manifestly unjust way."
Unison, Tenant Services Authority members
Education trusts are "academies lite"
From the 20th Jan edition of The Socialist
Education bosses in Greenwich have begun laying off workers and slashing and burning terms and conditions of some of their lowest paid workers. They are preparing the ground for a new education trust run by the University of Greenwich. The two schools selected to be part of the trust are Eltham Green school and Eglinton School in Plumstead.
Paul Callanan
Teaching assistants (TAs) from the two schools lobbied the council on 8 December. Michelle Nimmo, a TA at Eglinton school, explained how she was sacked while on maternity leave.
Michelle was called to a meeting with no one to represent her in a room full of strangers and given notice that she was being made redundant. The school's head teacher didn't even attend the meeting because she was on holiday in Indonesia!
Meanwhile at Eltham Green school 39 workers have been made redundant as part of a so-called "restructuring" package. TA Kirsty Gibson explained that this has been done so that bosses can "pick off the most vulnerable workers". As a result the school has lost experienced workers.
She also explained that this is an attack on staff pay, terms and conditions as the council have now opened up 39 new vacancies at the school. Former staff will be able to apply for these positions but those that get the jobs will do so on much lower terms than before.
The next night a meeting was held to discuss the fightback. The meeting was first addressed by Onay Kasab, Greenwich Unison branch secretary and Greenwich Socialist Party member who said: "the trust proposition is a very real threat that we mustn't lose sight of. The redundancies, cuts and the trust are all linked, in spite of the council's denials."
His call to stand candidates at the next council elections, that would really represent parents and teaching staff was well received.
Lewisham National Union of Teachers branch secretary and Lewisham SP member Martin Powell-Davies then told the meeting about a similar attack being carried out by Lewisham council, who are trying to impose a trust on parents and teaching staff.
He explained that councils' new found enthusiasm for trusts is because of the unpopularity of academies and that trusts are simply "academies lite".
He pointed out that one danger of academies is that "staff would no longer be working for the council but competing trusts who want to hammer down terms and conditions". Also so-called "difficult children" could be turfed out or denied places at schools as the trusts compete with each other.
This was backed by a TA from Eltham Green school who said that "difficult" students are already being expelled on flimsy reasons in preparation for the trust.
The meeting finished by agreeing to organise a demonstration in Eltham.
The Socialist Party demands:
No compulsory redundancies
No cuts to staff pay, terms and conditions
No to trusts
For education to be controlled by elected local authorities, parents and staff
Any new staff to be taken on with the same pay, terms and conditions as existing staff .
For a joint campaign of parents, pupils and staff to oppose attacks on education
Education bosses in Greenwich have begun laying off workers and slashing and burning terms and conditions of some of their lowest paid workers. They are preparing the ground for a new education trust run by the University of Greenwich. The two schools selected to be part of the trust are Eltham Green school and Eglinton School in Plumstead.
Paul Callanan
Teaching assistants (TAs) from the two schools lobbied the council on 8 December. Michelle Nimmo, a TA at Eglinton school, explained how she was sacked while on maternity leave.
Michelle was called to a meeting with no one to represent her in a room full of strangers and given notice that she was being made redundant. The school's head teacher didn't even attend the meeting because she was on holiday in Indonesia!
Meanwhile at Eltham Green school 39 workers have been made redundant as part of a so-called "restructuring" package. TA Kirsty Gibson explained that this has been done so that bosses can "pick off the most vulnerable workers". As a result the school has lost experienced workers.
She also explained that this is an attack on staff pay, terms and conditions as the council have now opened up 39 new vacancies at the school. Former staff will be able to apply for these positions but those that get the jobs will do so on much lower terms than before.
The next night a meeting was held to discuss the fightback. The meeting was first addressed by Onay Kasab, Greenwich Unison branch secretary and Greenwich Socialist Party member who said: "the trust proposition is a very real threat that we mustn't lose sight of. The redundancies, cuts and the trust are all linked, in spite of the council's denials."
His call to stand candidates at the next council elections, that would really represent parents and teaching staff was well received.
Lewisham National Union of Teachers branch secretary and Lewisham SP member Martin Powell-Davies then told the meeting about a similar attack being carried out by Lewisham council, who are trying to impose a trust on parents and teaching staff.
He explained that councils' new found enthusiasm for trusts is because of the unpopularity of academies and that trusts are simply "academies lite".
He pointed out that one danger of academies is that "staff would no longer be working for the council but competing trusts who want to hammer down terms and conditions". Also so-called "difficult children" could be turfed out or denied places at schools as the trusts compete with each other.
This was backed by a TA from Eltham Green school who said that "difficult" students are already being expelled on flimsy reasons in preparation for the trust.
The meeting finished by agreeing to organise a demonstration in Eltham.
The Socialist Party demands:
No compulsory redundancies
No cuts to staff pay, terms and conditions
No to trusts
For education to be controlled by elected local authorities, parents and staff
Any new staff to be taken on with the same pay, terms and conditions as existing staff .
For a joint campaign of parents, pupils and staff to oppose attacks on education
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)