Wales launches Campaign for New Workers’ Party

A WELL-attended meeting, mainly of trade union activists and largely
drawn from South Wales, met in Cardiff on 29 June to launch the Campaign
for a New Workers Party (CNWP) in Wales.

Andrew Price (NEC member UCU in personal capacity

From the platform Rob Williams (T&GWU) convenor of the Visteon Car
plant in Swansea described the current struggle to protect jobs in the
works given New Labour’s total failure to stem the loss of jobs in
manufacturing throughout the country.

Alex Gounelas (USDAW) explained how very few youth in Britain had any
political memories before the rise of New Labour, and how they’d
suffered as a result of the government’s policy in spheres such as low
pay and education. Young people could be enthused by the prospect of a
new workers’ party in the same way that they were enthused by the
struggle against the war with Iraq.

John McInally (PCS NEC) condemned the huge Civil Service job losses
caused by this government’s policies, and the massive privatisation
brought about by New Labour in the same area. The call for a new
workers’ party is in tune with the aspirations of many public sector
trade unionists today.

On the same day that Blaenau Gwent voters delivered a damning verdict
on New Labour, this meeting showed what the campaign can and will do
throughout Wales in the next period.