Unison’s annual conference returned to Brighton this year, taking place from 16-21 June, in the middle of a general election.
Members are understandably breathing a sigh of relief at the prospect of getting rid of the Tories. But for the overwhelming majority, there is very little faith in Starmer’s Labour either.
With the Labour leaders pledging ‘fiscal responsibility’ – i.e. further austerity and deep cuts – the attacks on public sector workers look set to continue and potentially intensify.
A member of the Unison national executive committee (NEC), opening the local government conference, outlined how the swingeing cuts to public spending, staffing levels, and real wages have impacted the union’s members since 2010.
They also highlighted the shocking fact that many Unison members have to claim benefits to get by. In some cases, there are even reports of union members relying on food banks to feed their families.
Many workers want to know exactly how the biggest union in Britain will respond to this scandalous state of affairs. After all, there are few illusions amongst rank-and-file members that a Labour government will do anything for them.
Waiting for Labour
In all the pronouncements by the union’s bureaucracy and right wing, the same old tunes could be heard.
Conference heard calls to “put pressure on the incoming Labour government”, “hold Labour accountable”, and “use the union’s structures and Labour Link to work with Labour to achieve the union’s ends”.
Delegates were completely unwilling to place their hopes in an incoming government, however.
Many contributions from the conference floor spoke of “holding Labour’s feet to the fire”. There was a defiant refusal to accept Starmer’s “tough decisions”.
The gulf between the union’s grassroots membership and its right-wing leadership was clear – and it seems to be widening.
Right wing defeated
Crucially, the right wing lost the vote on their flagship motion. This stated that Unison members could no longer claim that they are speaking in a ‘personal capacity’ when attending demonstrations and picket lines.
This would effectively be a gagging order on Unison activists – clearly intended to limit any criticism of a future Labour government from the rank and file.
Many delegates also saw how this motion could be used by the right wing to witch-hunt members who disagreed with the soft-touch tone and approach of the bureaucracy.
As such, the motion fell – despite officials demanding that the vote be taken three times!
On the question of Palestine, there was overwhelming condemnation of the genocide unfolding in Gaza. A broad message of solidarity was provided from the conference floor.
A delegate from the RCP spoke in the public finances debate, calling for the nationalisation of the land, the banks, and the major corporations – under workers’ control – as the only way to reverse and completely address the ongoing crisis at all levels.
Fighting leadership
Clearly, the right wing did not get their way this year. There was a mood of distrust and rebellion amongst delegates that they clearly were not expecting – especially after their crushing victories over the last couple of years.
This shows that, despite their apparent strength, the bureaucratic Unison leaders are sitting atop a volcano. Grassroots members, angry at decades of let-downs, are beginning to make their presence felt.
The one thing that is missing is proper fighting leadership – rooted in the rank and file, and armed with a clear socialist programme to transform the union.
Opportunities for building such a leadership across the trade union movement are opening up. The RCP has set itself this task. Join us in forging this force.
