Challenge to Labour austerity desperately needed
Steve Bell, outgoing Health Service Group Executive member, personal capacity
Andrea Egan, the newly elected left general secretary, spoke at Unison health conference on the first day. The health service group in the union was seen by defeated right-wing general secretary Christina McAnea as one of her key bases in the union.
Andrea was quite clear that the 3.3% pay award was not enough and she attacked the Labour government for not doing enough to bring services back in-house. She also spoke about socialist principles, opposing war and attacks on migrant workers, and taxing the rich. She said that we can’t wait for Labour and Labour can’t ‘out-Reform Reform’, we have to defend our workforce and migrant workers.
She congratulated all Unison members taking strike action, but unfortunately gave no lead on how she was going to expand this and make Unison a more visible, powerful voice within the trade union and labour movement.
Andrea was respectfully heard and given polite applause from the floor. It was positive to hear socialism mentioned, but it was not a speech that set conference alight, giving a lead to activists as to how we are going to challenge austerity from this Labour government, or tackle the rise of Reform, apart from going on demonstrations.
Although Andrea went further in her criticisms of Labour than the right wing that dominates the health group would want, for those who have been to many health conferences, the speech resembled many past general secretary speeches: talking about Unison’s successes, mildly attacking the government, and asking members to change things for the better – thus leaving any fight down to members in the branches.
Members have been left waiting to see if Andrea’s election will support the change in Unison that is needed, and to see the largest public sector union use its weight. Our leadership in health is still falling behind what is needed – a militant industrial strategy, arguing for national strike action across all sectors of the public sector, alongside Unison playing a leading role in the building of a real political alternative for workers.
- As we go to press, conference is ongoing. A report of the pay debate and more will be carried in a later issue of the Socialist
