Left Unity and Rank and File Trade Unionism
It is very likely that soon Left Unity will be established as a new political party, says Tim Nelson from Bristol Left Unity. It is obvious that none of us want it to be yet another small fringe organisation, but instead we hope to build a new mass party, rooted in the working class. It is my opinion that, in order to do this, Left Unity needs to adopt a radical grassroots approach to trade union politics. Trade union activity for a left wing organisation is not an optional extra, but must be a central part of our politics and activity.
It is commonly said within Left Unity that, due to the Labour Party’s shift to the right, a space has opened up for a left alternative to Labour; as many who would have previously voted for, campaigned for, or joined the Labour Party, have broken with it as it attempts to chase Tory votes. This is true. Millions of working class people have been abandoned by Labour. However, many will, if they vote at all, continue to vote Labour out of a sense of class loyalty, and through fear of the Conservatives. In order to become a genuine mass party we need to win these people, not just by having a more left wing programme than Labour, but by rooting ourselves in the working class movement and proving in practice that we are a genuine radical alternative.
The Labour Party and the Trade Union Bureaucracy
Many diagnose New Labour’s shift to the right over the last twenty years as being the result of middle class politicians adopting neo-liberal politics and seizing control of the leadership of the party, in an attempt to break Labour from its working class roots- the New Labour project. While there are elements of truth to this analysis, there is an underlying issue – namely, the Labour Party’s relationship with the trade union bureaucracy. It is a myth, which serves the purposes of both the Labour leadership and the trade union general secretaries, that they are constantly at odds with each other. While there are definitely tensions, as the recent spat between McCluskey and Milliband proved; the Labour leadership and the trade union bureaucrats continue to have a shared interest in shutting down any attempt at radical activity to oppose austerity. Both the Labour and the trade union leadership rely upon the passivity of the working class for their positions – their role, as they see it, is not to lead the working class in opposition to capitalism but to mediate between the working class and the capitalists. They aim to ensure what they see as the best possible deal for the working class within the current status quo. Their privileged position in the system relies upon this relationship.
The Labour Party’s funding, activist base, and in fact much of the membership of its parliamentary party, continues to be provided to a great extent by the trade union bureaucracy. Its right wing politics are not at odds with the trade union leadership, but in fact broadly reflect their opinions. The Labour Party does not “manipulate” the unions- it is in fact the political expression of the trade union bureaucracy. Both the leadership of the Labour Party and the vast majority of the union leadership believe that the best way to achieve better conditions for working class people within capitalism, and to secure their own privileged positions in that system is by having a Labour government in power which could manage capitalism more effectively.
The Role of the Bureaucracy in the Trade Union Movement
The role of the bureaucracy, particularly those bureaucrats who support Labour, in the trade union movement supports this analysis. In my union, Unison, the main block to building a radical anti-austerity movement is the full-time apparatus, which is completely tied to the Labour Party. This is not to say that the membership is chomping at the bit for mass for mass strikes, only held back by the dastardly leadership; but rather that the bureaucracy has continually pursued a policy of least resistance, doing the bare minimum in order to appease those members who want a fight back, then pulling back for fear of losing control. Running parallel to this is a continued political argument that our only hope is that a Labour government is elected in 2015. This prevents any real attempt to build a real fight back.
There are, however, many people in the trade union movement, particularly activists and shop stewards, who are desperate for there to be an organised fight back. Some of these are Labour supporters, others are not, but many would respond to a party which not only called for such a struggle, but actively attempted to build one. It is these people Left Unity needs to relate to. A party which orientates itself towards branch and workplace activity and attempts to build a fight back from the bottom up would have the potential to build a mass base in the working class. Left Unity should not just aim to provide an alternative to the Labour Party at the ballot box, but should also attempt to build, and be a central part of, a radical grassroots alternative to the trade union bureaucracy. This is what we mean by rank and file trade unionism.
A Rank and File Strategy
Left Unity should not be a party which simply presents itself as an alternative leadership to the left of Labour – “follow us not them”- but instead should be a party which encourages, and bases itself upon, the self-activity of the working class. We have to adopt clear positions which support all strikes and other forms of industrial action and, furthermore, clear demands in every union in which we have members, developed by those members, to put to the leadership calling for radical action against austerity. This can be done by organising Left Unity trade union fractions which meet to develop policies and strategies on how to organise within their unions, and produce agitational material to distribute in workplaces and branches.
Left Unity should also aim to produce a radical rank and file agitational newspaper, written by trade union activists, which we can use to build a network of readers and supporters in the trade union movement. These plans cannot be carried out over night, but will take patient work and organisation. The first step towards them will be a dedicated national meeting for Left Unity trade union activists.
13 comments
13 responses to “Left Unity and Rank and File Trade Unionism”
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There is much to agree with in this article but let’s not put all our eggs in the trade union rank and file basket. Let’s remember that there are over 30m workers in the country but perhaps fewer than 7m trade unionists.
In Lewisham if we had relied soley on trade unionists to lead our campaign to save our hospital we would have lost. We based our campaign on an appeal to the local community. The level of oranisation and active stewards in the hospital is very low. Thankfully Unite have now managed to establish a fighting branch which has been supported by the local hospital campaign. The sad reality is that in many work places trade unions often don’t exist. The level of trade union organisation in much of the private sector is very low. Even in local government the level of active trade unionism is minimal.
We need to based the activity of our party on building and supporting active trade unionism but if we become little more than a warmed up 1970’s rank and file trade union movement we are not going to become a significant mass party of the left.
I don’t really disagree with that. However, I don’t think the danger is that Left Unity will be concentrating too much on trade unions. I think the real danger, so far, is that we’re hardly talking about them at all. This is problematic as there are very specific issues in the trade union movement, particularly the issue of the bureaucracy, which we can’t overlook.
A good article, and lots to agree with, but I think we can and should go further than just supporting rank and file agitation for more militant action.
We need to actively support and take the initiative in organising rank and file networks which can challenge for control of disputes – the terms, the duration, the methods, etc. – and for accountability of the full time officials.
The 80,000 votes for Jerry Hicks shows that the idea of challenging the bureaucratic control and political misleadership is not a far-left pipe dream, but a genunine need felt by large numbers of militant workers.
I think it’s important that Left Unity doesn’t repeat the mistake that the NPA made in 2010, when it refused to openly campaign for the political leadership of workers in struggle, who were trying to overcome a strategy of sectional, piecemeal resistance.
In short, yes Left Unity should support strikes, and work to spread support for a more effective industrial strategy as one part of a wider class struggle resistance, but to do that effectively means openly and honestly criticising the failure of the trade union leaders – not blaming the ‘passivity’ or ‘demoralisation’ of the workers, which is largely the fault of the energy-sapping strategy of the union leaders.
If we do this then we will be able to recruit workers critical of Labour and looking for a fightback. Muting our criticism of the leaders who have sold out struggles is no way to convince those who have been sold out that we have a radical alternative.
If we had someone like Jerry Hicks among the Left Unity leadership after November, then this would complement the strategy you are putting forward, which I support as one strand, not THE strand, of LU activity. I don’t know whether or not Jerry is a signatory to LU but hope so.
It is equally important that LU roots itself in the environmental protests in order to win the many socialists who have joined the Greens over recent years and in anti-racist work, to win anti-racists from Respect. Otherwise LU will just be one of three radical left parties rather than the main one.
A very good article.
Most of the Unite trade union backed parliamentary candidates for the next election are Labour right wingers. So Mcluskey strategy to turn the Labour Party to the left has already failed. This is why we need a new socialist party.
Kevin O’Connor
Islington Left Unity.
Creating a national network of trade union activists, as part of Left Unity, is a great idea – in fact an essential strand of activity for any left-of-labour party. As well as the rank and file – bureaucracy question for existing trade unionists, it also needs to work with others on the difficult task of helping workers to organise in their non-unionised workplaces, particularly in the private sector.
Absolutely, I’d be interested in organising an “unorganised workers fraction” if you get my meaning, and see if Left Unity could help provide resources, contacts etc. to help them unionise. Having those workers in contact with those of us in organised workplaces would be very useful all round too.
Can I encourage all those who are involved with the trade unions to get involved with Left Unity Trade Union working group… Email: tradeunion@leftunity.org or communitycourtyard@live.co.uk. Or call me direct on 07925730772.
In solidarity Bianca
What is it aiming to do?
I also agree with the article and John. Labour has lost it’s soul which has gone to far for redemption. Unionism is a very complicated with its power base being slowly chipped away. Left unity must not lose sight of the core belief of starting new and fighting austerity and promoting policies that will attract union members to us leading to eventually bring trade unions into left unity. However, we must not lose our identity by welcoming bureaucracy. Left unity is growing every month. 7 million trade union members are a big base and we welcome all. But as pointed out 23 million workers are not affiliated to unions and have no protection and are as important and if not more important which also has no strings.
Thanks Tim. i have left comments on website on exactly these points. im a unison steward, struggling to establish a class struggle left wing in my branch. The region seems to annoint a safe branch leadership which was quickly hostile to attempts to get it moving and discussing a grass roots approach. Democracy is a key issue as is pushing for branch to recognise and encourage more accessable specific bodies. eg a stewards committee, regular work place/company based committees etc.
They seem over worried in just opening the branch up to new members.
many have got demoralised and become inactive. some have left. some talk about joining unite. a left unity unison initiative might be useful to this. if as author says its about responding to ordinary members ideas, thoughts, initiatives.
yes, would be interested to know if jerry hicks and grassroots left are discussing left unity.
I Would love to see a grassroots left in unison, perhaps this could be something that left unity could get started on. i know jerry hicks would support such an attempt.
its about activists fighting where they are and unions are a tool for this in the workplace. we shouldnt leave the unions to the bureacracy, we should get involved and try to make the unions fight!
peteb
I have noticed a slight absence of debate on the unions and this intervention opens up the need to engage a strong local activist approach. I think Left Unity will have to engage on various fronts in a more systematic manner which are related to work.
I- the need to engage with workplace activism and networks as a way of creating a space for a new politicisation or labour relations
2 – ensure that union democracy is something we extol as a central feature of our approach making sure we provide a positive counter space for socialists and progressive representatives and activists
3 – a serious commitment to developing a serious fight back against the cuts that places pressure on union leaders to put greater emphasis on public engagement and visibility
4 – act as a network that links labour activism into the community and builds on a real community union model and not the current servicing union model which is what appears to be the case at the moment in many unions
5 – create links with consumption politics in terms of the fight against welfare cuts but also green issues such that Left Unity manages to push for a new trade union logic which mobilises a broader political view of work
6 – mobilise on worker control, industrial democracy and cooperatives as a way of creating a significant new politics of worker engagement as this is something that has dropped off the official union agenda
7 – engage and open up union bureaucracies which are tied up by the Labour Party in the main, and to argue for full election of all key posts
Some of us are keen to see Left Unity and the party that emerges as a movement that puts a political and engaged feeling to initiatives which have been left to one side or linked to service unionism. The union dimension is vital and we should show that we are ale to connect and radicalise agendas around a politics of emancipation.
An excellent and much needed thread. Nice one Miguel! I’ve just posted a response to Felicity Dowlings’s important and more recent statement on the same issue. I’ve suggested a policy commission on these issues perhaps opening up the LU Trade union working group?