THIS PENSIONS DEFENDING
JUSTICE
WORKERS PENSIONS ganised sectors.
Even where organising moves do seem more positive, as with the T&G's "cleaners" campaign, it is not clear how much of the left rhetoric, and use of militant methods is not in fact covering over new forms of "partnership" and single union deals at the exclusion of others. Breaking with "labourism"
What is called for is a more fundamental break with labourism, political and industrial. It is necessary to develop alternatives to each of the TUC's bankrupt three strategies
At the political level, the wait for a Labour government, soon became, when we had one, a wait for a second term (when Labour would have a freer hand!) and has now become a wait for a second Prime minister.
But of course, Gordon Brown will be no different to Blair. Indeed, it is clear that most of the current domestic policies that have been so disappointing to the trade union leaderships are actually Brown's not Blair's.
Over and above whatever level of success John McDonnell may achieve in his challenge for the Labour leadership, the battle inside the unions has to be centre on building a serious political alternative.
The RMT-called conference on political representation held a year ago was an important first step. But the RMT has failed to develop the initiative. Instead they have followed the line of Bob Crow; that the first stage is to revitalise the industrial grass roots of the trade unions- and only then would it become possible to build a new political force.
Having been bitten by the bad experience of Arthur Scargill's Socialist Labour Party, Crow's position is perhaps understandable. But it is still wrong.
Despite the good work the RMT has been able to do with its parliamentary group-far in advance of what was ever achieved in the days when the union was allowed to affiliate to the Labour Party, the failure to develop the discussion has proved costly.
The RMT has moved back-