NSSN – Organising the resistance

National Shop Stewards Network – Organising the resistance

Bob Severn

“The biggest shop stewards gathering of the year.” This was how BFAWU bakers’ union general secretary Ronnie Draper accurately described the eighth annual conference of the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) in a tweet. The main room in central London’s Conway Hall was packed out with over 300 trade unionists and young people.

Held under the title ‘strike together for a pay rise’, the meeting looked at maximising the turnout for 10 July (J10) and building on that public sector strike over pay (with firefighters also striking over pensions), for generalised anti-austerity action.

NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The general election is less than ten months away. The trade union movement needs to make clear to whichever capitalist party forms the next government – their common consensus of continuing the austerity agenda will be ferociously fought.

Speaking in the opening session, NSSN chair Rob Williams welcomed J10, the biggest one-day strike since 30 November 2011 (N30) with up to two million workers taking part, and the further action dates already proposed by Unison.

“We want another day like N30, but we don’t want another D19”. On 19 December 2011 Trade Union Congress and other right-wing union leaders, especially from Unison, agreed to pension cuts with small government concessions that were already on offer before N30.

Rob Williams, NSSN chair, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Rob Williams, NSSN chair, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

N30 saw almost two million public sector workers on strike and marching over pensions in what was “more than a strike”. But the D19 agreement was seen by the Con-Dems as a green light to charge ahead with austerity and privatisation. J10 represents a big step in rebuilding the union fightback that has the potential to stop austerity and overthrow the government.

Directed at the TUC and conservative union leaders, PCS general secretary Janice Godrich said: “No more leading us up the hill to go straight back down. The PCS will do all we can to build for united struggle with other unions.”

Rob said: “We will call on trade union leaders to meet after J10, broaden the action, involve everyone in the public sector, then bring in private sector workers.”

BFAWU bakers’ union general secretary Ronnie Draper said that: “Coordinated action can get results, and every single workplace in this country has a problem.”

Ronnie Draper, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Ronnie Draper, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

When giving the annual report, NSSN secretary Linda Taaffe said that one issue that separates the Network from many other anti-cuts platforms is that the NSSN raises the central role of trade union joint action in defeating austerity.

Unison executive member Roger Bannister, in a personal capacity, explained how although his union originally provided ‘no recommendation’ on the 1% local government pay offer, pressure from below resulted in rejection of the rotten offer and a successful ballot for J10.

Roger Bannister speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo by Senan

Roger Bannister speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo by Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

NUT teachers’ union executive member Martin Powell-Davies called for his union to also have a clear calendar of action beyond J10.

Janice said that the Con-Dems were right on one thing: “There is no alternative – no alternative but to fight.” Otherwise we’ll suffer more and more austerity, with 60% of government cuts yet to come.

Janice also warned that future generations would look at how the NHS was privatised and be disgusted at the lack of action by health union leaders to stop it.

Many spoke of the results of austerity, including food banks and pay day loans.

Brian Caton, retired POA prison officers’ union general secretary, explained other ways workers experience austerity – or planned poverty. He reported that prison officers made redundant through cuts had been offered back their old jobs at understaffed prisons. But on two-thirds of the pay!

The POA has been calling on the TUC to organise a general strike for years. Prison officers don’t have the legal right to strike, but that hasn’t stopped POA members from walking out.

Brian Caton, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Brian Caton, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The NSSN campaigns for a 24-hour general strike against austerity. Its campaign helped push the TUC to support a POA motion calling on it to consider such action at the 2012 Congress in Brighton. But nine months after the TUC voted to keep 24-hour general strike ‘on the table’ in 2013, the TUC has done nothing.

Some right-wing leaders’ excuse is ‘workers aren’t ready’, but Ronnie reported that a BFAWU consultative ballot found 70% in favour of a general strike.

Peter Pinkney, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Peter Pinkney, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

“We need a general strike,” said Peter Pinkney, president of the NSSN’s founding union, the RMT transport union. “The TUC should listen to the millions who marched and have taken strike action.”

Peter also said he was proud that his union voted at its 2014 conference to remove Labour Party affiliation from its rule book and spoke of the need for an alternative to capitalism.

Janice explained the importance of the socialist leadership in the PCS. The trade union movement needs to have three words in its slogan, she said, ‘Struggle, solidarity and socialism’ to fight for workers to live not just exist.

Janice Godrich, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Janice Godrich, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

In closing the conference, Chris Baugh, PCS assistant general secretary, spoke of the need to maximise members’ participation and control within unions, for which the NSSN plays a pivotal role. “It’s not just about union membership – it’s what we do.” The NSSN has a proud record of converting rank-and-file anger into union action.

On the 30th anniversary of the miners’ strike, Chris said the lesson of that heroic strike against Thatcher must be linked to fighting for a future. Just like today, if the TUC had given a lead and organised a general strike backing the miners, that struggle could have been won.

Chris Baugh, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14

Chris Baugh, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14

Chris said workers’ victories show the latent power of the trade unions. “They attack us, attacked Bob Crow, give bad press, use anti-union laws, because they fear trade union power… We need to reach out to the old, young, disabled – draw millions into the movement against austerity…

This means a sustained programme of action up to and beyond the general election.”

NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Reps report their struggles

The conference heard from trade unionists involved in the Tyneside Safety Glass dispute over pay, now in its third week; the indefinite strike at Lambeth College against attacks on conditions; and the Doncaster Care UK disputes against pay cuts. A collection at the conference raised £360 to share out equally in donations to these campaigns.

A London Underground rep spoke on Transport for London’s cuts and management reneging on agreements made since the last RMT strike. More strike action is likely, he said, with the need to convince the TSSA to again join action and for every single member of staff to take part.

Alex Gordon, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Alex Gordon, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Former RMT president and NSSN steering committee member Alex Gordon reported that outsourced train cleaners, working for Mitie at Paddington station, had won a pay increase meaning they now received the London living wage of £8.80.

A TfL worker in the RMT, victimised by contractor Sodexo, reported that he had defeated this predatory contractor. He appealed for a common struggle against victimisation with GMB, Unite and Unison members.

The conference also heard from Unite housing workers involved in disputes including at LookAhead, where workers will start a seven-day strike on 10 July following a 100% vote for action. LookAhead had refused to recognise Unite union membership – but management said they wanted to talk when the strike was announced.

The conference also heard from victimised One Housing rep Bryan Kennedy, sacked after leading successful strike action which recruited to Unite. A lobby of Bryan’s redundancy appeal had been organised for 9 July. The conference gave support to Leeds Ambulance workers in Unite, striking on 5 and 6 July over safety issues, during the 66th anniversary of the NHS’s foundation.

Firefighters, as well as joining the strike on 10 July, are also due to walkout for eight consecutive days from Monday 14 July. Each day will see two strikes, both lasting two hours, apart from Sunday 20 July which will see one two hour stoppage.

$15 won in Seattle

Ginger Jentzen speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Ginger Jentzen speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

15 Now campaigner Ginger Jentzen reported how the $15 minimum wage had been won in US city Seattle through a grassroots campaign.

A wave of strikes by fast food workers popularised the $15 demand. Socialist Kshama Sawant took this up and won a seat on Seattle council with over 90,000 votes. This forced Seattle’s Democrat mayor to take up the issue.

But Kshama then exposed the pro-big business Democrats who voted through loopholes in the legislation to benefit big business. Nonetheless it’s estimated that 100,000 workers will be lifted out of poverty, with $3 billion being transferred from bosses’ profits to workers’ pay.

$15 an hour is now being proposed in other cities including New York and San Francisco.

“But”, Ginger said, “$15 is only the beginning: poverty is a measure of how useful a system is, and the popularity of socialism is growing in the US.”

£10 an hour needed in Britain

The NSSN backs the call made by the Socialist Party and now BFAWU and GMB for a £10 an hour minimum wage in Britain.

Martin Smith, GMB, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Martin Smith, GMB, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Speaking from the GMB, organiser Martin Smith said that the ‘living wage’ measure of £7.65 an hour (outside London) is not enough to live on as workers still have to claim benefits. Every year the £20 billion in benefits paid to low-wage workers is a subsidy to poverty-pay companies.

Scrap zero-hours

Helen Pattison speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Helen Pattison speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Helen Pattison from Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) described how workers’ rights have gone back 100 years. “One worker reported how he has to get up early, waiting for a text to say there’s work. Everyone who gets that text has to then go to work.

“You all have to go, or you’ll never be hired again. But only the first one there gets the job.”

But zero-hour contracts can be beaten. Ronnie Draper reported the victory of 210 BFAWU members at the Hovis bread factory in Wigan in September 2013, with coordinated action playing a part.

BFAWU president Ian Hodson, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo by Senan

BFAWU president Ian Hodson at NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo by Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Drivers refused to cross the around-the-clock 100-strong picket lines. Strikers and supporters marched through Wigan, many boycotted Hovis, the website was brought down, directors were hit by hundreds of people phoning to complain.

Jaime Davis said it was a lie that zero-hour contracts give flexibility to workers. The day before the conference, he was ready for work in the morning when he received a text: “Don’t come in until five today”. “We want flexibility on our terms… Workplaces like these need to be unionised – that’s why I joined BFAWU.”

Remembering Bob Crow

A minute’s applause was held in memory of Bob Crow and all trade union members who died in the past year. In tribute Ronnie Draper remembered how Bob recognised the strength in the unions, remarking once that workplace shop stewards, doing the ground floor union organising, are the real heroes of the trade union movement.

Steering committee

Oktay Sahbaz, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Oktay Sahbaz, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

A steering committee to oversee the NSSN’s work for the next year was elected. New members to the committee included Ronnie Draper, Chas Berry from the Napo probation officers’ union that has recently taken action against privatisation, and Oktay Sahbaz from the Turkish-Kurdish group Day-Mer. There was also an open place agreed for a YFJ representative .

Oktay brought greetings from Day-Mer. Tragically the ‘official’ death count at May’s mining disaster in Western Turkey was 303, but hundreds have still not been found and protesting miners’ families have been attacked by the state. Oktay thanked the NSSN for its support of workers in Turkey, struggling against attacks over pay, conditions, trade union rights and through privatisation.

NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

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Video shown at NSSN conference