Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/497/2682
From The Socialist newspaper, 26 July 2007
National Shop Stewards' Network hits the ground running
The first committee meeting of the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) took place on 21 July. There was a good attendance despite the onset of holidays and the terrible weather affecting parts of the country and transport.
Kevin Parslow NSSN committee member
The major decision was to agree to call a meeting at the TUC Conference for 11 September on the question of the anti-trade union laws and to launch the network more widely in the trade union movement.
It was generally felt that the holiday period and the relatively short notice would not be conducive to building for a big lobby. However, many of the committee members committed themselves to organise the meeting and attend it.
Members also gave their full support to the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in its current disputes. A letter was sent to the CWU with our support and a draft letter was agreed which has been sent to committee members to give to CWU reps and pickets.
It includes the paragraph: "We believe that one of our most important roles should be to offer solidarity and practical support to workers in struggle. In Britain today, it is clear that you are on the frontline in the battle against cuts and privatisation in the public sector. The outcome of your dispute will have consequences not only for postal workers, but for all public-sector workers. For that reason we believe it absolutely crucial that our Network does all it can to give assistance to your struggle."
The committee also agreed to get out material to urge trade union organisations to affiliate to the network and to contact those reps who attended the founding conference with a view to holding regional meetings in the autumn.
It was clear from the reports of the postal and other disputes developing on a national scale that the network can hit the ground running and begin to make an impact amongst the thousands of shop stewards and representatives active in the trade union movement.
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In The Socialist 26 July 2007:
New Labour ignored flood warnings
Government cuts add to flooding crisis
Postal workers' strike
Postal workers: Their fight is our fight
Critical dispute for postal workers
Socialist Party NHS campaign
NHS: no more cuts, no more privatisation
Socialist Party news and analysis
Support Glasgow's social work strikers
Metronet walks away from trouble...
Airports industry expansion plans fail to take off
Brown's 'affordable housing' plan - all smoke and mirrors?
Tales from the council chambers
If this is New Labour democracy...
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Socialist Party reviews
Vicious bile and grovelling sweet talk
Workplace news and analysis
Visteon workers continue fight for jobs
National Shop Stewards' Network hits the ground running
Another missed opportunity on teachers' pay
International socialist news and analysis
Erdogan's election victory reveals Turkey's faultlines
Mass protests planned at the APEC summit
Socialism 2007
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