When Len McCluskey the new General Secretary of Unite addressed the assembled crowds at Glasgow’s May Day Rally, just days before the Scottish Parliament elections he delivered a stark message to the Scottish Labour party.
Reminding us that Keir Hardie had said his key aim in life was to stir up 'divine discontent' among the people, he strongly urged Scottish Labour to return to those radical roots - to reclaim its radical edge and reject the cuts agenda. He said it was no use embracing the concept of cuts but saying we’ll cut slower or thinner. He said it was time for the Party to face up to the fact that the New Labour philosophy – that slavish ideology of Neo – Liberalism has failed and he urged us all to stand up and be confident in our beliefs. For us to have faith in our values of decency, dignity, justice and equality.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Elaine Smith MSP, Jamie Hepburn MSP & Neil Findlay MSP lead Debate on People's Charter and STUC Better Way Campaign in Scottish Parliament
There is a Better Way Campaign
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott): The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-00003, in the name of Elaine Smith, on there is a better way. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament supports the STUC There is a Better Way campaign; believes that cuts are neither unavoidable nor inevitable and that they would actually threaten economic recovery across Scotland and impact on areas such as Coatbridge and Chryston; considers that a sensible and sustainable response to the current economic crisis is contained in the People’s Charter; understands that public sector cuts are likely to have a disproportionate effect on women, children and disabled people, and would welcome widespread support for the STUC campaign and local campaigns such as those in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott): The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-00003, in the name of Elaine Smith, on there is a better way. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament supports the STUC There is a Better Way campaign; believes that cuts are neither unavoidable nor inevitable and that they would actually threaten economic recovery across Scotland and impact on areas such as Coatbridge and Chryston; considers that a sensible and sustainable response to the current economic crisis is contained in the People’s Charter; understands that public sector cuts are likely to have a disproportionate effect on women, children and disabled people, and would welcome widespread support for the STUC campaign and local campaigns such as those in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Unite Gen Sec favourite Len McCluskey says People's Charter is alternative plan we need
"We have to offer an alternative, and we have one - it's called the People's Charter, which is both Unite and TUC policy."
Unite's leadership hopeful Len McCluskey talks to Emily Mann of the New Statesman
The coffee table in the office of Len McCluskey, an assistant general secretary of Unite and the best-known of four candidates in the union's leadership election this autumn, is empty but for a small chess set, the pieces neatly arranged ready for a match. I ask if he plays often. Oh no, he says, as if he's barely moved a pawn. "But perhaps," he adds light-heartedly, "Derek should have made me play to decide on the candidacy."
It is an affectionate-seeming swipe at the current joint general secretary Derek Simpson, who chose to back Les Bayliss as his successor when he retires in December. McCluskey is the preferred candidate of Unite's other general secretary, Tony Woodley, with whom the successful candidate will have to work as "general secretary designate" until Woodley retires a year later in December 2011, after which - finally - there will be only one.
The change, for many, cannot come soon enough. Simpson and Woodley have shared the leadership of Britain's largest union since it was formed through the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union in 2007, but they have disagreed on many things besides their successor. McCluskey tells me that his campaign is going well - "I am humbled by the response from all sectors of the union" - but members everywhere have expressed frustration and anger that the integration of the union has not been properly completed.
"Ex-Amicus and ex-T&G shop stewards are now working well together and the benefits are clear," he says. "But at the top of the union, we still appear to have two different approaches, and that won't change until we elect a single general secretary." A self-confessed member of the union's left, McCluskey is standing as the "unity" candidate and insists that, if elected, he will drive through the integration in "a matter of weeks".
Unite's leadership hopeful Len McCluskey talks to Emily Mann of the New Statesman
The coffee table in the office of Len McCluskey, an assistant general secretary of Unite and the best-known of four candidates in the union's leadership election this autumn, is empty but for a small chess set, the pieces neatly arranged ready for a match. I ask if he plays often. Oh no, he says, as if he's barely moved a pawn. "But perhaps," he adds light-heartedly, "Derek should have made me play to decide on the candidacy."
It is an affectionate-seeming swipe at the current joint general secretary Derek Simpson, who chose to back Les Bayliss as his successor when he retires in December. McCluskey is the preferred candidate of Unite's other general secretary, Tony Woodley, with whom the successful candidate will have to work as "general secretary designate" until Woodley retires a year later in December 2011, after which - finally - there will be only one.
The change, for many, cannot come soon enough. Simpson and Woodley have shared the leadership of Britain's largest union since it was formed through the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union in 2007, but they have disagreed on many things besides their successor. McCluskey tells me that his campaign is going well - "I am humbled by the response from all sectors of the union" - but members everywhere have expressed frustration and anger that the integration of the union has not been properly completed.
"Ex-Amicus and ex-T&G shop stewards are now working well together and the benefits are clear," he says. "But at the top of the union, we still appear to have two different approaches, and that won't change until we elect a single general secretary." A self-confessed member of the union's left, McCluskey is standing as the "unity" candidate and insists that, if elected, he will drive through the integration in "a matter of weeks".
Friday, September 24, 2010
People's Charter takes to the streets of Edinburgh
Richard Shilcock reports on the CPB and People's Charter Stall in Edinburgh on Saturday 18th September 2010, he also seeks suggestions on developing this work. Let us know if you can help!
We were rained off very shortly after starting yesterday, but this last few weeks have been excellent, with four regular comrades on the 12.00-2.00 bookstall on Princes Street, allowing us to extend it to a second People's Charter stall.
The stall is providing an excellent focus for discussion among the comrades, and we have plenty of interesting meetings with passers-by. Many old CPGB
comrades make contact, as do communists from all round the world. The flag is now a regular landmark in Princes Street, and is a constant draw for photographers. Given the clampdown in many countries of eastern Europe, just flying the flag is an important statement to tourists.
The People's Charter stall attracts a trickle of petition signers, and we're distributing leaflets, but any advice is welcome on how to develop that stall.
We were rained off very shortly after starting yesterday, but this last few weeks have been excellent, with four regular comrades on the 12.00-2.00 bookstall on Princes Street, allowing us to extend it to a second People's Charter stall.
The stall is providing an excellent focus for discussion among the comrades, and we have plenty of interesting meetings with passers-by. Many old CPGB
comrades make contact, as do communists from all round the world. The flag is now a regular landmark in Princes Street, and is a constant draw for photographers. Given the clampdown in many countries of eastern Europe, just flying the flag is an important statement to tourists.
The People's Charter stall attracts a trickle of petition signers, and we're distributing leaflets, but any advice is welcome on how to develop that stall.
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