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From The Socialist newspaper, 17 April 2019
'Reforms' hollow out the NUS
Socialist Students members address a left caucus at NUS conference 2019, photo by William Campbell (Click to enlarge)
National Union of Socialists (NUS) conference met this year in Glasgow to decide the future of the union. The so-called 'turnaround motion', drawn up by the leadership in response to a financial black hole in NUS accounts, was passed.
It contained proposals which included swingeing cuts to full-time officers and campaigns, moves towards online voting for 'consultation' on NUS's political direction, and cuts to the National Executive Council.
Amendments were submitted which slightly curbed some of the attacks to NUS democracy. Some self-described 'left' delegates argued that with enough of the amendments passed, the reform motion should be voted for as it represented a chance to 'save' the NUS.
Socialist Students' delegates campaigned and spoke both at caucuses of left delegates as well as from the conference floor, highlighting that even with all the 'progressive' amendments passed, the final reform motion would still represent a huge attack on democracy within the NUS, as well as diminishing its ability to play a leading role in future mass student struggles - reducing its role to a think tank.
Alternative
Socialist Students delegates highlighted the potential solutions to the financial crisis which are available to the NUS on the basis of a fighting and democratic leadership conducting a political campaign among its members.
Of course it is impossible to say exactly how these reforms will take shape over the coming weeks and months. Socialist Students is calling for the convening of emergency student meetings, dedicated to discussing the task of building the democratic and fighting national student union we need.
Out of this could come an extraordinary national conference of all students and campaigners. Such a conference could democratically discuss the way forward in the aftermath of this reform motion.
These meetings and conference, even if acted on by only a handful of student unions initially, could decide whether or not to continue the fight to save the NUS in its current form, or to begin to take the steps necessary to found a new national student union.
- See full statement by Socialist Students at socialiststudents.org.uk
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In The Socialist 17 April 2019:
What we think
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News
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Labour looks to Bank of England to stall house prices
No-fault evictions ban, but cuts leave tenants vulnerable
Labour needs socialist policies to solve "climate emergency"
Minimum wage
20 years of the minimum wage: Fight for a real living wage for every worker
Workplace news
Newham bin workers ballot for strikes
Arriva Rail North cleaners fight bosses' punitive pay arrears
School staff demand action on pay and testing at NEU conference
Deliveroo workers protest at firm's Nottingham roadshow
PCS union: vital local strikes and a national pay ballot - vote for a fighting leadership
Unison union: right wing tries to block campaigning - elect a socialist leadership
International socialist news and analysis
Sudan: No to rule of the generals!
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Labour councils must act now to save our schools!
Council elections - an opportunity to present a socialist alternative to cuts
Activists rally in fight for more council housing and against high rents
Youth climate strikes: Democratic organisation and socialist policies needed
Opinion
Engels' classic essential for understanding socialist ideas old and 'new'
Real life on Universal Credit: "As soon as I get billed for my electric, I'm finished"
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