
The Socialist 14 May 2014
VOTE TUSC - For the millions not the billionaires

For the millions not the billionaires
Fight back at the ballot box on 22 May
Building Labour: when workers first formed own party
Southampton: Showing what's possible
Liverpool City Council 1983-87: "We had a choice"
Why we're standing as TUSC candidates
On the campaign trail with TUSC
Ukip - the establishment's 'anti-establishment' party
Housing evictions - main parties to blame
Gove robs education budget to fund 'Free Schools'
What's socialism got to do with fighting austerity?
South Africa: The ANC victory, WASP and the EFF
Capitalist politicians can't solve Boko Haram crisis
Ireland: Election campaigns "referendum on austerity"
Care UK strike: NHS workers v NHS privatisation
PCS: Re-election of a fighting, socialist leadership
Leadership challenged at Usdaw conference
Brighton: Determined to fight college cuts
Transport workers' international meeting
Fight together for pay rise - Come to NSSN conference
Freedom Riders- action brings victory
Building TUSC, building socialism
Donate to the election appeal!
Why I joined the Socialist Party
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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/811/18598
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Leadership challenged at Usdaw conference
Socialist Party members in Usdaw
Usdaw's 2014 Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM) opened to a backdrop of announcements of job losses and cuts in Tesco. Members' anger at finding this out through social media and the union's complacency peppered their speeches.
As ever, many of the propositions challenging the Usdaw leadership's position never made it to ADM floor. This didn't stop criticism of the union's leadership - delegates made points on the union's annual report, usually a more mundane part of ADM.
Iain Dalton criticised the union leadership. They'd attended an international trade union conference in Argentina and the only official mention of the visit so far was a sentence in the report. If we're sending delegates around the world to discuss with our fellow workers, this should be reported so we can learn from their struggles. He highlighted the inspiring struggles in the US to organise Walmart workers as well as fighting for a $15 an hour minimum wage.
This, and other interventions, led to a growing interest in the Socialist Party and its bulletin in the union, the Activist. Over 100 copies of the Socialist were sold, more than one for every eight attendees. Delegates also bought 50 copies of the new Activist pamphlet.
A key debate took place around zero-hour contracts. Unfortunately the composite that was passed mentioned every constraint except abolishing them.
Motions were also passed to campaign to abolish tuition fees and work closer with student unions and the NUS. Renationalising public transport was also supported. A motion congratulating Miliband on his energy price freeze was amended to say that the best means of controlling energy prices was: "to renationalise the energy companies with democratic control including workers in industry and consumers over prices".
In the union's upcoming elections Socialist Party members will be building support for the candidates endorsed by the Broad Left meeting at ADM. These include Socialist Party members Scott Jones, who is standing for the Executive Committee (EC) in the South Wales and Western division and Amy Murphy who is standing for re-election to the EC in the Southern division and for President of the union.
In this issue
Vote Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
For the millions not the billionaires
Fight back at the ballot box on 22 May
Building Labour: when workers first formed own party
Southampton: Showing what's possible
Liverpool City Council 1983-87: "We had a choice"
Why we're standing as TUSC candidates
On the campaign trail with TUSC
Socialist Party news and analysis
Ukip - the establishment's 'anti-establishment' party
Housing evictions - main parties to blame
Gove robs education budget to fund 'Free Schools'
Socialist Party feature
What's socialism got to do with fighting austerity?
International socialist news and analysis
South Africa: The ANC victory, WASP and the EFF
Capitalist politicians can't solve Boko Haram crisis
Ireland: Election campaigns "referendum on austerity"
Socialist Party workplace news
Care UK strike: NHS workers v NHS privatisation
PCS: Re-election of a fighting, socialist leadership
Leadership challenged at Usdaw conference
Brighton: Determined to fight college cuts
Transport workers' international meeting
Fight together for pay rise - Come to NSSN conference
Readers' reviews
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Freedom Riders- action brings victory
Building TUSC, building socialism
Donate to the election appeal!
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Related links:
Usdaw elections - right makes gains but Broad Left builds
Usdaw Broad Left rally brings together those campaigning for a fighting union
Usdaw conference stripped of democracy by leadership
Morrisons - £10/hr headline hides divisive pay offer
Ryan Aldred: Why I'm standing for Usdaw's EC
President of 'big four' Labour-affiliated trade union joins TUSC committee
How militant trade unionism defeated the 1971 Industrial Relations Act
Hinkley Point electricians fight 'deskilling'
Garment workers and Covid: Dying for less than minimum wage
Liverpool Labour meltdown - Fight for socialist policies
Getting the Socialist out in lockdown
East London Socialist Party: A fighting programme for women's rights and socialism
Keep the fighting fund rushing in for a TUSC stand in May
Waltham Forest Socialist Party: A socialist response to the mental health crisis