Trident debate.

Workers Uniting Group supporters emailed in regard to the question of the Workers Uniting Group's position on Trident and a recent report from the TUC and Unite's opposition to Trident and questions being asked by members in the shipbuilding and aerospace industry.

This letter appeared in the Morning Star on 22nd September from Andrew Murray.

You accurately report my contribution, standing in for Tony Woodley, at the CND fringe meeting at TUC concerning Trident (M Star September 15).

However, it is wrong to suggest that opposition to Trident is the agreed policy of Unite. As I made clear at the meeting, Unite has no policy on the issue, since our first policy conference is not to be held until early next year.

While both former sections of Unite - Amicus and the T&G - had policy on Trident, only this conference will be able to determine an attitude on behalf of Unite as a whole.

In response to questions, I also explained that in the context of the widening debate on Trident replacement, Unite will of course have entirely legitimate concerns about the future of the many thousands of skilled jobs presently dependent on nuclear weapons, as well as about all of the ethical, strategic and spending questions involved.

Andrew Murray
Director of Communications, Unite the union