Unite National Industrial Sector Conferences Report

Unite National Industrial Sector Conferences Report by Workers Uniting Group Supporters.

"A momentous week for Unite and Workers Uniting" - Les Bayliss: Workers Uniting Group candidate For Unite General Secretary

During the week of November 23rd to 27th, Unite activists and reps from all of the unions' 24 Sectors took part in conferences which debated and decided their own industrial policies.

Delegates heard excellent plenary speeches from Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley - on organising, politics and international issues and the conferences welcomed guests from Venezuela, Columbia, USW and representatives of 3500 striking Steelworkers in Canada.

It was also a week when Workers Uniting - the merged global union between Unite and the United Steelworkers was put firmly on the trade union map.

Les Bayliss, candidate for Unite General Secretary who is supported by the Left Progressive Workers Uniting Group said: "This was a momentous week for Unite and Workers Uniting. The work being done in print and paper; in the NHS and healthcare; in the finance sector and in Columbia and the Bangladeshi ship breakers was highlighted by Unite's senior officers and our Steelworker comrades. No delegate attending the conferences in Brighton could be left in any doubt that Workers Uniting will be a global union to be reckoned with. I am proud to have been part of helping develop Workers Uniting and will continue to work to strengthen it. The support both morally and financially for Workers Uniting-USW members on strike at Vale Inco in Canada was magnificent."

Comrades representing striking Steelworkers from the Brazilian multi-national Vale Inco in Canada explained the background to their strike along with the need for a strong global union. Senior officers of the United Steelworkers Jon Geenen and Carol Landry put the case for building Workers Uniting as a global union and they received unanimous support each day and at each conference.

In a number of key debates delegates discussed issues pertinent to their own industries and sectors including the fight back against the attacks by employers on pay and conditions; the privatisation of the NHS and local services; pay claims; health and safety etc.

Delegates also had a daily opportunity to question Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley on a wide range of issues - especially on the organising strategy, the financial crisis, pay, conditions, democratic union structures, Europe, the health service, pensions etc.

They also had the chance to learn about the positive developments in Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua reports back from Unite delegates who have attended recent solidarity delegations to Latin America - as well as hearing about the difficult situation in Columbia and Honduras at evening fringe meetings.

Chairing two of the fringe meetings on Latin America Les Bayliss said: "Unite's work in Latin America is vitally important. It has helped us understand how these countries are developing socialist policies which suit them and the threats they may face from reactionary forces in the region and elsewhere. We will also need to re-double our efforts to help trade unionists facing repression and imprisonment in Columbia and Honduras".

The weeks conferences also gave an opportunity for delegates to gauge the campaigning already underway for the General Secretary-ship of Unite. In his winding up remarks at the plenary sessions Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson, referred to the no-hoper candidates, saying that we could run the General Secretary election like the "X Factor" where members could vote an aspiring candidate off every week until we get to the election proper!

Workers Uniting Group candidate Les Bayliss was on hand to meet groups of delegates from different sectors and to listen to their views. He said: "It was good to listen to our reps. They told me they want to develop a united, strong and powerful union. They are looking for a financially sound and growing union, one which is responsive to the real needs of our members".

Les Bayliss added: "It is clear that our reps want a democratic and accountable union with equalities for all, with well trained reps who really represent people in work - those who face a boss everyday, with no going back to a re-hash of previous unions. They want Unite to help them when they need it, to defend workers and their families and not get side tracked by personal ambition or by fanciful politics and undeliverable policies".

Unite can be proud of running 24 succesful conferences - which should be a good prelude to the main policy Unite conference in 2010.

More information on the the Vale Inco Strike can be found at
http://unitingworkers.net/international/support_usw_striking_miners_at.aspx

Daily reports from the weeks Unite Industrial Sector Conferences can be found on the Morning Star website
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php