November EC Meeting 2019

In this context it seems most likely to me that, as the Tories and Brexit Party have done a deal the Tories will win with a small minority or Parliament will be hung. There are likely to be lots of new kinds of MPs Brexit and wild cards also. I cannot see Labour winning the election at this stage. One of the greatest dangers politically in my view is the Scottish Nationalist Party. Forget the non sequiter of claiming independence while remaining in the EU, they are a divisive force, and like Plaid, seek to divide workers on narrow nationalist lines.

The Labour Party.

For trade unionists generally only one political party, the Labour Party, is committed to a repeal of all anti trade union legislation and the development of a Ministry of Labour to introduce new more worker friendly, trade union supportive legislation and collective bargaining. For the GFTU in particular, I cannot think of one of our policies passed at BGCMs over the years that would be supported by the Conservative Party or the Liberal Democrats. Most of our policies are supported by the Labour Party and many were reflected in their last manifesto. The GFTU has prioritised winning a statutory Youth Service, this is possible only with a Labour Party victory. Any other party being elected to government will mean the final extinction of the Youth Service and no chance of revival. The recently launched Labour Party policy for the future of the Youth Service is the best statement on this area of work there has ever been by a political party. Only a minority of trade unions in both the TUC and the GFTU are Labour Party affiliated. The GFTU and TUC worked together originally to form the Labour Representation Committee which went on to form the Labour Party. For a long period in recent history the Chair of the Labour Party would report on work to the GFTU EC on a regular basis. For a period the GFTU represented smaller Labour Party affiliates on the TULO Committee. Our 2019 120 th year Parliamentary launch, like our 100 th year celebrations, were held in Parliament with the leadership of the Labour Party. The GFTU has no political fund and is not affiliated to the Labour Party or any other. We should also recall in this important anniversary year that the GFTU was one of the main providers of welfare services for trade unionists and their families and one of the main campaigners for the welfare state. When the welfare state was introduced in 1945 in fact the GFTU had an identity crisis and debate about its future role. The purpose of a trade union federation is to bring unity and practical support and solidarity to its affiliates. Our affiliates naturally adopt very different positions on the variety of issues confronting us all today. On big issues like Brexit and how to vote in a general election our affiliates take different positions or no position. No federation can, nor should, seek to resolve such differences or impose an alternative view. It is important to debate the issues involved in a comradely manner. At this critical time the GFTU needs to stay strong and united and bring even more support to unions. There is great politics to practicality. By supporting trade unions in the period ahead we will be making a major political contribution whatever the outcome of the election. There are two developments that I believe are extremely political and which should be uniting for trade unions and the GFTU in particular. The GFTU – well placed either way.

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