Letters to the Morning Star from Terry McCarthy

These are two recent letters are from Workers Uniting Group supporter Terry McCarthy who has asked if they can be posted on the Workers Uniting Group Website and ciruculated on the mailing list.

Friday 07 August 2009
Unions have strong history of supporting gay rights
Regarding Dave Brinson's letter (M Star August 3) in relation to Brighton Pride, as in previous years I took part in the parade and festival with my union Unite.
The trade unions are the biggest single financial contributors to Pride.
Yes, Stonewall is right - there are some dinosaurs in the trade union movement who would like to disaffiliate from Pride, but these are a tiny minority.
However, Stonewall should accept that, if it wasn't for the trade union and labour movement, there would be no Pride and male homosexuality would still be a criminal offence.
Perhaps the movement shouldn't be so modest in relation to the social revolution that it led in the 1960s.


Tuesday 21 July 2009
It's naive to think we're in 'socialist times'
Although I agree with the sentiment of Len McCluskey's article 'We say: Never again' (M Star July 16), his assertion that we are in "socialist times" is somewhat naive, as is his view that capitalism is about to collapse.
The sad truth is it was the fascist BNP that polled nearly a million votes - not the left.
We are facing the spectre of a Tory government with more anti-trade union legislation, yet there are still leading members of the trade union movement who will not embrace the People's Charter.
Yes, socialism is the only ideology that can beat capitalism, but there is no quick fix.
The job of trade unions is to raise the political consciousness of their members through political education, to support members in dispute, to affiliate and donate to progressive organisations both at home and abroad - especially the new-look Morning Star - and to play a leading role in the fight against capitalism in all its guises.

TERRY McCARTHY
Essex