Socialist Party members make an impact at Wales TUC

Wales TUC: Socialist Party members make an impact

"A PARTNERSHIP of unions and employers is a partnership of riders and
horses. The employers are always in the saddle!" Alec Thraves summed up
the reality of ‘partnership’ agreements while speaking from the rostrum
at the Wales TUC.

"We need a partnership between a trade union membership willing to
fight and a trade union leadership willing to lead. If it is a
partnership between the employers and unions then we want a divorce –
and a quickie divorce!" he continued.

The eight Socialist Party delegates made an impact out of all
proportion to our numbers. We spoke in a whole range of debates, and we
certainly got noticed.

A number of trade unions and trades councils asked us to second their
motions or amendments. Brian Curtis, leader of the RMT in Wales, asked
us because: "I want a left to second my motion, not a full-time
official".

Tony Woodley, general secretary of the TGWU, moved the resolution on
the Trade Union Freedom Bill. "How can they make solidarity action
illegal?" he demanded. "The gaffer does it when he flies in scabs. Why
can’t we?"

However, many delegates felt Woodley’s fighting words aren’t matched
by a determination to fight the job losses being suffered by his members
in the car industry up and down the country. Nevertheless, his eagerness
to position himself on the left is important.

Our amendment on renationalisation of the energy industry was
initially opposed by the general council. But they had to reverse that
decision when they found there was big support for renationalisation.

Renationalisation of the energy industry is now Wales TUC official policy. A Caerphillu Socialist Party member was elected to the general council from the Trades Council side.

We sold 60 copies of the socialist and 14 General Strike books, while
£367.00 fighting fund was raised. We had two good fringe meetings and
the profile of the Campaign for Saudi Arabian Trade Union Rights was
raised sharply. The Campaign is now officially supported by Wales TUC.
Socialist Party member Yahya al-Faifi, worked tirelessly approaching
delegates and he has a very large number of promises of support for us
to follow up.