Sheila Caffrey, Bristol Socialist Party and National Education Union (NEU) executive member, personal capacity
As socialists, we know the importance of building a broad-based movement of the working class to challenge the ills in capitalist society. With that in mind, the South West region of the Socialist Party called one of our day schools, aimed at developing members to take leading roles in our party, focused on building in the workplaces and trade unions.
It was a successful day, with 25 members attending with a range of roles and experience in different trade unions, including CWU, NEU, PCS, UCU, Unison, Usdaw and Unite. Some had joined unions in the last couple of months, some aren’t yet union members, and some had been active for several decades. We added up to over 250 years of experience fighting in unions for a socialist method and voice!
I introduced our first session on perspectives for the trade union and workers’ movement, discussing how demands we raise in unions are linked to pushing forward to achieve fighting, democratic unions. Several members spoke about the concerning moves to a partnership agreement between the Labour government, employers and the education unions, effectively trying to muzzle dissent and prevent action. We discussed our demands in those unions, as well as examples of where there’s already a problem with partnership deals in retail – including allowances for employers to make cuts and redundancies every four years! We also considered if Labour would be likely to introduce partnership to other sectors such as health and transport.
Clint, who’s been actively speaking to colleagues about the need to join a union after joining Unite at the end of last year, said: “It was brilliant learning about the history of how unions came about, and the involvement of the Socialist Party to cut across the bureaucracy to fight for the demands of the working class,” illustrating the link between our party role in trying to guide the movement forward with also doing the day-to-day work in the workplace.
Our second session was ‘Being a Marxist in the workplace’, led by Duncan Moore, an executive member of the University and College Union (UCU). It focused on sharing ideas and building confidence to intervene in workplace struggles. We discussed in small groups, which involved all comrades taking part. Whether we’re day one in a job or on the national executive of a union, we all have a role in speaking to workers and bringing them towards the party.
Annabel, who’s recently been able to join a trade union, summed up the day: “I really enjoyed the day school, and I feel like I’ve learned lots from more experienced members. I now feel ready and prepared to go to my first union branch meeting to start getting more involved and bringing socialist ideas!” What more could we ask from members keen to fight for unions to take a leading role in changing society into a socialist one, which would benefit the whole of the working class!
