Bob Crow calls for new party

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, addresses the National Shop Stewards Network conference July 2007

A successful founding conference of the National Shop Stewards Network took place on Saturday 7 July with nearly 300 shop stewards and workplace representatives attending. Delegates from all over the country were inspired during the course of the day by the mood of unity and determination to build the network.

The conference was addressed and supported by the president of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) Janice Godrich, the general secretaries of the PCS and RMT (rail) unions, Mark Serwotka and Bob Crow, as well as a number of trade union national executive members.

Delegates and observers particularly welcomed a closing speech by Bob Crow in which he argued strongly that not only does the network need to be built, but that an "alternative political party" to the present three main parties is also needed. He raised the possibility of the RMT initiating "a little political party" to contest the next London mayoral and assembly elections and said that this could be a step towards a new workers' party in a few years' time.