Socialist Party reporters
The first face-to-face TUC trades councils conference since lockdown took place on 11-12 June in Leicester. In many areas during lockdown, trades councils led the way in organising support for workers in essential industries and sectors, such as NHS workers and bus drivers.
The conference discussed and agreed motions on the cost-of-living crisis, the rail disputes, the ongoing crisis of Covid in the workplace, the fight for a pay rise, a ‘green industrial revolution’, pensions and retirement age, the attack on fundamental democratic rights made under the police crime sentencing bill, and international solidarity issues – including opposition to the Turkish state oppression of Kurds.
Four delegates who are also members of the Socialist Party intervened in many of the debates, linking the need for effective campaigning trade unionism with the need for a fighting programme and a real political alternative for workers.
Many of the motions called for public ownership of energy companies, the railways and other sectors. Niall Mulholland from Newham Trades Council added that we should give this demand more content and call for democratic workers’ control and management of nationalised industries, linked to ‘green growth’ planning.
Jane Nellist, from Coventry Trades Council, highlighted the case of the bin workers in the city who are locked in a bitter industrial struggle with the Labour council.
Sheila Caffrey, from Bristol Trades Council, who is also a teacher in the NEU, spoke about how Covid and workplace health and safety conditions remain a major issue in the schools and colleges, affecting staff and students, particularly those from poor, overcrowded communities.
The conference was down in numbers compared to previous years, which is probably linked to concerns over Covid, and several speakers called for better diversity representation.
Katrine Williams, from Cardiff Trades Council, argued that the most effective way to draw in more workers from ethnic minority backgrounds, women and from the LGBTQ+ community is through concretely fighting against their oppression and linking this to workplace and class issues, which unite us all.
With combative class policies, trades councils have the potential to become focal points of mass struggle in towns, cities and rural areas in the coming period of heightened class conflict.
