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.

What is green growth and why is it important?

I have been looking at the work that the trade unions are doing on the environment.  I believe that there are 3 main strengths of green campaigning:

1) Activists are increasingly arguing that climate change, peak oil, resource shortages and pollution are having a detrimental impact on economic growth and living standards.  Green growth therefore becomes a compelling argument for all of us whether workers, businesses and political classes.  Investment in sustainable industries and the skills required is not only crucial for economic success but also creates jobs and puts society on the path back to full employment.  Green growth relates to the concerns of people and is not just tree-hugging for the sake of it.

2) It is a good example of unions being the good society, small scale democratic local organisation and campaigning, facilitated by the centre.  It promotes activities and behaviours that are kinder to the wider natural environment and benefits include healthier lifestyles, recreational opportunities and biodiversity.

3) It is a positive image that can be attractive to both young and old, men and women, developed and developing world and help to challenge negative pre-conceptions about the image of the unions.  The unions are working to address international issues including development, fair trade, human rights and protection of habitats.

Take a look at this recent TUC Green Workplaces Newsletter.

Living Landscapes

This month, I attended an excellent presentation given by a Senior Conservation Adviser of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.  Alison Cross explained that much of their important work is on the theme of what they call Living Landscapes which is about empowering local landowners, workers, volunteers and youth to embrace sustainable methods to improve the natural environment and benefit wildlife but at the same time as viable economic activities, especially farming. This includes education, involving youth and promoting healthier lifestyles that are more in touch with nature. I see it as more of a movement than charitable handouts, recognising there is no point in creating isolated reserved which become islands, and species leave them, they cannot come back. Nor no point in investing in habitat improvement if there is no community behind it to provide ongoing support for the future. If there can be no sustainable economic activity, or community support and understanding of the importance of these wild spaces much land of interest will end up as motorway, shops or houses. It is important to realise that environmentalists are not against economic development, but aim to influence how and where it takes place to minimise negative impacts, and ensure that it is sustainable.

Initiatives include grazing cattle to preserve the (man made) environment of heathland and selling the beef in local Co-Op shops, running Willow hurdle (traditional fence) making courses to promoting use of this material, the traditional coppicing methods help to retain diversity of woodland. And providing access to European funding streams to buy equipment needed to improve the efficiency of local foresters engaged in sustainable firewood production. Working in partnership with armed forces to improve and maintain MoD sites which contain some important ecological niches.

The trust has published a Parish Wildlife Map Toolkit, which draws heavily on the magnificent work of the Overton Biodiversity Society in coming up with a Parish Biodiversity Action Plan.

I hope that the wildlife trusts continue to receive a steady source of funding as local council budgets are squeezed as they are performing very valuable activities which provide a variety of benefits to the local communities beyond nature conservation alone. If this isn't a tremendous example of the "Big Society" in action then I don't know what is.

The trust are working with government as they wish to contribute towards a new DEFRA Natural Environment White Paper to really make an impact in enhancing the natural environment based upon the approace they are taking. It is seen as being extremely important that the government commit to their side of the bargain in making this into a genuinely green piece of legislation.

Parish Biodiversity Action Plan links:
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/parish-toolkit.html
http://www.overton-biodiversity.org/resources/catalogue/

Living Landscapes Campaign links:
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/what-well-be-saying-.html
http://www.hwt.org.uk/data/files/campaigns/a_living_landscape_2010_web_pdf_15558.pdf
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/living-landscapes-appeal.html

Government plans to sell off England's Forests

I wrote to my Conservative Member of Parliament on Monday and have received a couple of responses.  I understand that he has met with the Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, but the information that returned was rather vague and inconclusive - namely that no decision has yet been taken and that some forests (including the New Forest) have been counted as 'heritage forests' and will not be touched.  Caroline Spelman has released a written statement to parliament which contains information on a public consultation ending on 21 April.

Sadly there are no guarantees to offer continued protection of biodiversity and public access, although a number of MPs are expected to field questions on the matter in parliament.

You can take part in petitions at 38 Degrees (which contains a tool to make it easy to write to your MP and contains responses from MPs), The Woodland Trust and This Land is our Land

This is what I wrote to my MP:

I have learned about shocking government plans to sell off England's forests.
Professionals working for the Forestry Commision have informed me that whenever land is sold off it does not save money because private landowners can fell timber and then apply for public funding to plant more trees. Not only does this negate the profit generated from selling the land, but an important income stream generated by selling timber is lost.
The Forestry Commission run valuable education programmes, support the creation of sustainable fuel sources, perform research into tree diseases and pests and contribute towards reducing carbon emissions for the future. This important work will be put at risk by government plans. Efficiencies of scale would also be lost if the work was to be taken on by a host of private contractors and laboratories.
There is the risk that private firms will be allowed to inappropriately develop or fell ancient forest, depriving English wildlife of valuable habitats and the public of valuable recreational access to woodland. A valuable opportunity to sustainably manage the biodiversity of English forests for the benefit of recreation, wildlife and future generations will be lost forever.
I'm involved with a variety of local conservation and wildlife groups who are opposed to the plans, and this weekend campaigners at 38 Degrees presented an opinion poll which showed that 85% of people are in favour of our forests staying in public hands for future generations.
Do you agree with the majority view on this issue? Will you promise to speak out and vote against the sell-off?
I also want you to fight to keep public access to forests as it is, and to protect the diverse wildlife of English forests.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Disability and Work

I have been studying the union negotiating approach to supporting people with disabilities to remain in work.  Especially where individuals with mental health issues are concerned.

I was taken aback at just how prevelant disability is (DDA definition) between 1 in 4 and 1 in 8 depending on what you read.  Also according to a new TUC guide people with mental illness issues have an employment rate of little more than 10 per cent.

As a TU representative I often come into contact with staff who face difficulties at work due to absence or because they are facing discipline or redundancy.  Recognising what constitutes a disability under the law and correctly advocating in these circumstances is of  key importance in achieving a positive outcome.  The Equality Act 2010 has lead to changes in the law which trade union representatives need to be aware of.

Up-to-date information and guidance for lay reps and managers is sorely needed, and guess what, today the TUC has released an updated guide for union reps to help them to better support and represent disabled people at work.

As the TUC say in their press release, the guide is likely to be helpful to reps, as it contains advice and information including challenging disability discrimination, the equality duty, recruitment procedures, sickness absence, redundancy, health and safety, mental health, and training.

Welcome

I am an environmentalist, trade union representative and member of the Labour party living in rural Hampshire in the south east of England.  I am going to start putting together my thoughts here to participate in the debate on green growth.

I do not believe that we achieve very much by ourselves in isolation, so let's work together for a brighter future.  I will happily invite input from everyone, whether or not you are an environmentalist, trade union representative, party political activist, business person, conservation volunteer or charitable organisation.

I enjoy reading other blogs and online news and comment.

I regularly comment at Eoin Clarke's the The Green Benches  blog.  This is a particularly friendly and popular site, with informative polling analysis, humorous caption competitions, and a YouGov VI tracker poll prediction competition.  Eoin intends to turn it into a one-stop-shop for politics and polling analysis and I think he's almost there.  The site has potential to grow into one of the top UK political blogs.  Most importantly, it provides a rare opportunity for those with a wide range of different views to come together and amicably discuss politics and the environment.  I have enjoyed a wide range of discussion topics on the site, including many that overlap with the intended topic of my own blog, and I contributed towards a section for a considered policy document that the other “Green” place will be submitting to the Labour party policy review.