Unions Unlinked? – Lessons From Refounding Labour

It has been a couple of years now since I put pen to paper with my views on the future direction of the Labour party. You may ask, what has changed during this period and what has prompted me to blog again?

This is to be my contribution to the party’s Building a One Nation Labour Party Interim Report. In writing, I draw from my submission to the Refounding Labour consultation in June 2011 and look at what was said and done then that is still relevant to the current consultation on the union link, and what has changed in the party since.

During 2011, I was not entirely happy with party organisation and policies. I felt that decision making was not sufficiently democratic or transparent and that ordinary members should be involved more. I felt that powerful elites dominated in party affairs. This had lead me to promote the work of the Labour Left think tank and its Red Book, a collection of essays on an ethical socialist future for the party under Ed Miliband’s leadership.

I was Winchester Labour delegate to conference in September 2011 where, as I saw it, Refounding Labour had left the job half done, and failed to completely address the substantive issues of the relationship with the trade unions, decision making within the party and the rights of party members and supporters in a satisfactory way. Members were promised that there would be further developments on policy and greater involvement in decision making.

I still believe, as I wrote then, that the shadow cabinet, and to an extent, the affiliated trade unions have too much power within the party and that ordinary members deserve greater input on matters including candidate selection, conference decisions and leadership elections.

In launching One Nation Labour in 2012, Ed said that “Too often people in Britain have felt like politicians haven’t listened to them... We need to change the way that power and politics works, to rebuild trust and confidence in an era of difficult choices it is more important than ever that politics is a collective endeavour, that power is distributed fairly, that vested interests are tackled, and people are given influence over the decisions that affect their lives.” So we can be sure that Ed has been thinking along similar lines during this period.

Returning to my Refounding submission in 2011, I wanted to see the role of trade unions enhanced. "We as Labour should work and campaign with the TUs more and not less, but that this would mean compromises on BOTH sides, including Labour looking again at employment and trade union laws, but that any attempts by the Labour party to further marginalise the unions would be counterproductive whilst the shadow cabinet retains so much power."

Ray Collins has since reminded us that Ed wants working people to have a real choice about affiliating to Labour - and then a real voice as individuals within the party, in the Building a One Nation Labour Party Interim Report.

“Ed Miliband has now said this process should be changed, so that instead of trade union levy-payers being automatically affiliated these individuals are instead able to make an active, deliberate choice on whether to be part of the Labour Party.”

“The objective would be to convert as many as possible of the levy-payers of affiliated unions into individual membership of our party. The corresponding aim is a party that is stronger in the workplace, our communities and neighbourhoods, in real contact with working people from all walks of life.”

There is much to praise in this document, and I concur with the essential role that workers will play in the future of the party. I would, however, like to add that the unaffiliated trade unions represent a similar untapped potential for recruiting Labour members but at the moment only those represented by the minority of unions that are affiliated have direct influence within the party. Non-affiliated unions do much campaigning in a manner that is helpful to both workers and the party, but members, like myself a Prospect representative, receive no direct recognition from the party for our efforts. I would prefer that changes intended to involve more union members in the party encompass unaffiliated as well as affiliated union members.

I now think that it is time to move to a one member one vote for all party decision-making, where everyone counts the same no matter whether a CLP or PLP member and irrespective of how many different organisations they are in. This, I believe, should count at all levels from CLP to national conference and the election of officials and party leader.

I would like to see members of all recognised trade unions, affiliated organisations, and co-operative societies to be explicitly offered the option to opt-in as full Labour members at a reduced joining rate. I believe that it was a Tory MP who came up with this idea and, whilst the Tories appear unlikely to adopt this due to ideological difficulties, there is every reason why Labour should grasp the opportunity to recruit many tens of thousands of additional members.

The notion of a Labour supporter is a useful one as someone who is involved in the party to an extent and who should be included in our activities and discussions, however the influx of new members resulting from a reduced membership offer would negate the need for non member supporters to be eligible to take part in decision making, for instance in selecting party leaders or the conduct of primaries. It is desirable that such a reduced joining rate should also be extended to party supporters as an incentive to take the next step towards full membership and voting rights.

At the time of Refounding Labour, I thought there was a particular problem with party members not having a voice in setting the direction of policy, that it was unclear what consideration was given to policy submissions and that Labour was struggling to make the case that it has principals that are different to those of the other parties. I believed the party needed to do more to set the agenda, rather than react to what the government was doing or what was reported in the papers. I said that more emphasis should be put on fairness, opportunity, the cost of living crisis and opposing the privatisation of our NHS. There was great potential to target exploitative employers, landlords and excessive profiteering in transport and utilities without leading to any increase in government spending. In addition, family-friendly policies to enhance childcare, maternity/paternity leave and promote more flexible working arrangements are likely to be achievable at little or no cost.

In recent months, many of the changes along these lines that I and many other party member have argued for have come to pass. Not only has the direction of the party made great improvements but Ed has taken on irresponsible behaviours by the utility companies, press and bankers. He has shown strong and effective leadership in articulating policy that is informed by and well received by the membership, in support of the many and against the vested interests of the very rich and powerful. Ray Collins wrote “Ed has already begun turning that around. He has opened up our party to registered supporters, our campaigns to local communities, and our policy making process to good people with good ideas both inside and outside Labour." I am particularly pleased with the direction that he is leading our party in.

Also in 2011, I wanted to see policies emerging on employment law to better support the activities of workers representatives working alongside employers to deliver mutual benefits. This at a time when we have a government that is hostile to workers and looking to drive down standards is a misguided attempt to save on costs to employers. "I know that greater worker involvement is capable of delivering enhanced in the workplace, with staff having more of a say in negotiating conditions of work and promoting safe working practices. Mutual ownership should be explored for certain organisations including the post office, railways and Northern Rock."

Sadly the government have persisted in unwisely divesting themselves of key national assets like the Post Office at bargain basement prices and in moving to denationalise the East coast mainline, despite its strong performance whilst under public ownership.

I had previously written in my Refounding submission that amongst those CLPs that do not have a Labour MP, and especially in 3rd place seats, there were deficiencies in campaigning reach, web presence and fund raising. I wanted the party to provide more assistance in these situations to help build up the activist base to increase vote share and win back council seats.

I believe the situation in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has since improved greatly with a number of useful conferences, reports and bespoke initiatives aimed at building organisation strength throughout the counties and a sense that activists are coming together to support one another across the region.

It is really very encouraging to see how far the party has come in little over 2 years, but there is still a long way to go before 2015 and much to do so this is no time to be resting on our laurels.

Relationship Between the Party and the Trade Unions

Local Labour parties in Hampshire are consulting on responses to the Building a One Nation Labour Party Interim Report on the relationship between the party and the trade unions. Submissions are invited after which Ray Collins will prepare his final report which will then be considered at a Special Party Conference on 1 March 2014. The interim report can be seen at http://action.labour.org.uk/page/s/one-nation-party.

 

Launch of GEER Left Wing Think Tank

We are at a crucial point where we need to identify the best that Labour can be, recognising that we have to move away from the legacy of New Labour and the perception that we are only interested in 'middle England'.  We should now move beyond the politics of aspiration to establish a new narrative around genuine equality and social mobility.  GEER will set out a new direction for a Labour party that embraces the diversity of identities and values within our communities.  Our ambition is to represent a broad constituency with a message of tolerance, inclusion, and relevance.

80% of the population are women, working class or black or minority ethnic people and people are placing increasing emphasis on poverty, morality and the environment than before.  GEER will provide Labour with an opportunity to reconnect with a representative majority of the population who have the potential to return us back to power.

GEER aims to rebalance society to provide employment, green growth, and a fair economy whilst caring for the vulnerable in our communities.  We will help to foster positive relationships within society and look forwards to a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable future for all.

This is the right time to include those who are concerned about the interventionist, authoritarian and centralising approach of new Labour.  On issues such as the environment, overseas development, foreign policy, human rights, electoral reform and devolution, GEER will promote more inclusive policies.  Labour should also look to reform its own procedures, to give the grassroots within the party a greater voice.  Not only are each of these issues important in their own right, but by engaging with them Labour can reach out to voters.

This is an opportunity for us to build on the party’s achievements in power whilst rejecting that which does not resonate with ordinary voters.  We must focus on rebalancing policies to better represent working class versus middle class, grassroots versus parliamentary party and to give a greater voice to women, black and minority ethnic people.

The Landed Gentry of the Dever Valley

An excellent illustrated talk by Nicky Pink, senior archives assistant of the Hampshire Records Office on 18th century country houses and gardens, with examples from Hampshire.  Hosted by the Dever Valley History Society, this focused on the craze for classical houses and looked at what inspired the rich to adopt these expensive fashions.

The neo-classical achitectural styles were inspired by grand tours of Greece and Italy, and inspiration from further afield was also sought.  Those who came into money, upgraded the facades of their country houses to impress others, and expanded them to house collections of antiquities and paintings that had been aquired during their expeditions.  It was thought that only the ruling elites who had a good enough education including study of the classics could appreciate the architecture, landscapes and sculptures contained within the country houses and estates.  Gardens were frequently re-landscaped so they could emphasis the size of the estates stretching into the distance in all directions, and to demonstrate the superiority and liberalism of the English versus the French Baroque style of garden design.

Existing buildings and landscapes were substantially changed, especially with the landscapes inspired by Capability Brown.  Working people laboured to divert and shore up rivers and create great artificial lakes and were often evicted from the land they worked through enclosure.

Perhaps most shockingly of all, the villagers of East Stratton were forcibly removed from their homes, which were knocked down to improve the outlook from Stratton House in Repton's redesign of the estate.  The village was moved to the south but the church was retained, so the villagers had a much longer walk to church.  The course of the main road was also altered, so as to reduce the amount of dust thrown up by passers by.

Winchester Action on Climate Change event 28/03/11 - Imagining the future: Prosperity in a low carbon world

WinACC promote energy efficiency in the home and beyond, working with local community groups.  They have good expertise in home insulation and air source heat pump central heating.  The group loans out carbon footprint and energy efficiency games to hosts of parties and electricity monitors to individuals who wish to examine the power consumption of their home gadgets.

A project, established in Fulford, links up home owners interested to improve the energy performance of their homes.  We also looked at the Sutton Scotney insulation and air source heat pump project.  Approaches to dealing with older buildings were discussed in some detail.

This was an ideal opportunity to meet people who live nearby and form productive partnerships.  Businesses and councillors also contributed to the event and there was an display of artwork made from recycled materials.

There is a growing trend for family members to have to spend more and more time at work away from home in order to pay for the very high cost of living in this part of the country, however people value green spaces and wildlife in their neighborhood and are keen to learn more about what is happening on their doorstep and maintain a sense of community.

Attendees indicated strong support for retaining public services across Winchester.  A pressing need for building affordable energy efficient homes was established, although concensus cannot easily be established on where these homes should be located.  The principle of maintaining biodiversity is valued as being highly important.  Sadly, the slashing of budgets and grants for housing, energy efficiency and improvements to community facilities has slowed the pace of this important work across Winchester.  Those of us who have already adopted lower cost measures are considering how to approach more expensive changes with long payback periods.  The author believes that home improvements should form an important part of a government stimulus package for sustainable investment in green jobs, growth and recovery

Diary of a Benefit Scrounger

Sue Marsh writes with incredible humanity, compassion and dignity about the issues affecting disabled people and those who are reliant on benefits or NHS services.  These qualities shine through the brilliant writing on her Diary of a Benefit Scrounger blog which has gone to 23rd political blog in the country (Wikio ranking).  Friends, fellow activists and bloggers have helped to spread the word.
Sue writes about her own experience as someone who has Crohns, at times from a hospital bed, and does not hold back with all of the details, good, bad and gory moments about how her experiences have effected her and her family life.  But Sue goes much further than this, writing to raise awareness of the consequences of the proposed reforms to disability benefits and restructuring of the NHS to a much wider audience.

Sue gives a voice to those who are not well represented by the main stream meda, her work has appeared in the Guardian:
18/01/11: Disabled protesters one month before heartbreak
09/12/10: NHS hospital wards care system
26/11/10: Pain long term drug addiction

Her words also features in top left wing blogs: Left Foot Forwards, Labour List and Liberal Conspiracy.

There is an Alternative

Trades Union Congress have produced brilliant leaflets entitled Myth-Buster and Cuts Are Not The Cure exposing the myths about government debt, explaining why rapid cuts are the wrong course of action and spelling out an alternative strategy.  Both are available from the TUC All Together website.

Why not share them with your family and friends?  You may like to participate on the March for the Alternative or add your experiences of the cuts on the False Economy website.