The left in UNISON went into this year's National Delegate Conference fragmented by the split of the Socialist Party (SP) leaving the United Left (UL), and by the decision of some individuals to support Prentis in the General Secretary election.
Relations between the SP and the United Left were further frayed by the SP's decision to stand a third left candidate for two London women's seats on the National Executive (NEC) which led to United Left-supported Fiona Monkman losing her seat on the NEC.
With few battles on the conference agenda (the NEC deciding at this time to support most left policy motions) the United Left used the opportunity presented by the conference to regroup and prepare to build its organisation in anticipation of battles to come, particularly over pensions.
The SP remain outside the United Left, but have 5 members on the NEC, and so some liaison with them at that level is essential and has begun to happen.
Ideally, it would be best if the SP reversed their sectarian trajectory and rejoined the UL, but this does not seem likely in the short term.
So, links between the two organisations must be established for joint work on the major issues facing the union and to avoid further election fiascos.
The UL needs to broaden its base and establish functioning groups of supporters that meet in as many regions as possible. This work was started in a meeting at the conference where supporters from all regions/nations except Northern Ireland and Wales took responsibility for building UL groups in their It would be best if the SP reversed their sectarian trajectory and rejoined the UL, but this does not seem likely in the short term.
This is essential if the UL is to become a campaigning force throughout the union rather than a coordination of individuals only at conference and for elections.
This is already the case in regions such as Greater London and the Northern region but the development must be stepped up in all areas
Many of the policy positions supported by the leadership of the union at this conference are a sound basis for campaigning in the coming year; opposition to ID cards, for a complete withdrawal of US and UK troops from Iraq by the end of the year at latest, to organise migrant workers, opposition to privatisation and, crucially, no concessions on pensions to the detriment of members, Campaigning jointly with other unions to build for industrial action when this becomes necessary.
In most cases the United Left would have put forward more consistent and principled positions (eg for immediate withdrawal from Iraq). But, the policies adopted by the conference have broad support throughout the UNISON membership.
The task for the left in UNISON in the coming period is to fight to hold the leadership to carry out the agreed policies, whilst at the same time preparing to build campaigns on these lines itself if the NEC fails to do so.
Building the organisation and membership base of the United Left, and establishing working relationships with those who agree on policy, but remain organisationally outside, are essential and urgent tasks to prepare for the battles that will come.