by René Lavanchy
Labour’s affiliated unions will consider whether to bypass the Labour-union link in order to deliver the policies their members want, at the Trades Union Congress next month.
A motion from the Communication Workers Union is calling on the 16 unions who pay the political levy to hold a conference “to consider how to achieve effective political representation for our members”.
It adds: “Congress notes that New Labour, as currently constituted, is now failing to attract the support of our members and that its vote at the 2009 European election reached a historic low.
“The present Government’s policy of continuing privatisation, cuts in Government spending and failure to remove the anti-trade union laws is unlikely to change this in the near future.”
If Labour’s unions decide to form an alliance, they will be following the example of the Trade Union Co-Ordinating Group, set up by eight unions last year under the oversight of left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell. The TUCG is not affiliated to Labour, and frequently attacks the Government.
The motion, approved by the CWU’s national executive after a lively argument, reflects unhappiness with Labour at the union, which has threatened to break away from the party if the Government resumes its postponed plan to part-privatise Royal Mail.
Affiliated union leaders have regular meetings with Gordon Brown through the Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation and contribute to the National Policy Forum that led to the two Warwick Agreements. But the Royal Mail plans, which violate the Warwick agreement, have damaged the credibility of the policymaking process.
A CWU activist who backed the motion said: “The background is the European elections. The vast majority of trade union members didn’t vote for the Labour Party because they don’t see Labour as offering effective political representation.
“We’re almost back where we were at the beginning of the 20th century as our members don’t look at any party as reflecting their issues.” They admitted the motion may well fall but said it was intended to stimulate debate. Another supporter insisted the motion was not calling for the creation of an alternative political party.
