The Socialist 2 February 2006

Pensions: Public-sector workers say 'Back down or we strike!'

Pensions: 'Back down or we strike!'

United mass action can defeat Blair's pensions plans

Firefighters prepare to strike against pensions' robbery

Building a new shop stewards' movement

Healthworkers back RMT and Socialist Party initiatives

2006: Year of opportunity

100 British victims of Blair's war

Political earthquake as Hamas wins election

Public health not private profit

Campaigning against privatisation of schools in Hackney

Lambeth students' successful boycott

Civil servants strike back at Blair's cuts agenda

Post Office: National action needed to defend jobs

Fighting council cuts in Devon

Defence workers battle privatisation

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue

PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT

020 8988 8777

[email protected]

Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/425/4978

Search the site	Printable version

Home | The Socialist 2 February 2006 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate

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