Healthworkers back RMT and Socialist Party initiatives

Campaign for new workers’ party

Healthworkers back RMT and Socialist Party initiatives

FOLLOWING THE success of the RMT railworkers’ union conference on
working-class political representation, Socialist Party member Len
Hockey, who is secretary of Waltham Forest UNISON health branch, sent
the following letter to Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT.
Dear Bob

I am writing on behalf of UNISON Waltham Forest Health Branch based
at Whipps Cross Hospital east London, to congratulate your union on the
excellent discussion conference the RMT hosted on the question of the
crisis of political representation facing working class people in
England and Wales.

I attended this following a discussion at our last Branch Committee
at which frustration was expressed at the continued support given to New
Labour by UNISON, to the tune of £3 million annually, in the context of
the ongoing assault on public services including the rapid privatisation/marketisation
of our National Health Service.

You were absolutely correct when you commented that trade unions
could only go so far in advancing the interests of ordinary people and
that they cannot change society and that it was the rail unions a
century ago that helped lead the campaign to set up the original Labour
Party.

Once again, potentially, the conference you called may come to be
seen as historically significant in the development of a new independent
and inclusive formation based on the trade unions, that would and could
at last give the confidence our class so desperately needs to change
society and assist in the task of rebuilding union structures, bringing
in the young to union activity and establishing the mass shop stewards
movement you rightly said was needed.

In conclusion, thanks again for an excellent and overwhelmingly well
supported initiative, I understand over a hundred had to be turned away
due to lack of space and can I ask if the RMT will be taking any other
initiatives? I understand there is a conference planned on 19th March.

Yours Fraternally

Len Hockey, Joint Branch Secretary


Campaign for a New Workers’ Party

National Conference

Sunday 19 March 2006, University of London Union, Malet Street,
London WC1

Local launch meetings coming up

London

9 February 7:30pm

West London Trade Union Club, Acton High Street.

23 February 7.30pm

320 Brixton Road, Brixton, London SW9

Speakers include: Ian Page, Lewisham Socialist

Party councillor, Rob MacDonald, President

Lambeth College students’ union.

23 February 7:30pm

William Morris Centre, Walthamstow.

25 February 2pm

Goldsmiths College, Room MB2106, Lewisham Way.

1 March 7.30pm

Charterhouse-in-Southwark, 40 Tabard Street (near Borough tube).

Yorkshire

4 February 1pm

SADACCA Club, The Wicker, Sheffield.

Wales

16 February 7:30pm

Unitarian Church, High Street, Swansea.

Speakers include: Gloria Tanner (PCS), Rob Williams (TGWU convenor,
Visteon), Sarah Mayo (PCS) – all speakers in personal capacity.


For more information on the Campaign for a New Workers’ Party, go to www.cnwp.org.uk

email [email protected] or write
to CNWP, PO Box 858, London E11 1YG.

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