www.unison.org.uk
www.unison.org.uk
NHS CUTS-BANANAS!
UNISON CALL UNISON DIRECT ON:0845 355 0845 the public service union ww.unison.org.uk
20-foot banana was
used to
attract attention by staff at the Royal Bolton
Hospital
protesting against cuts in the NHS. Bob Whitehead Birmingham Respect is to stand seven candidates for the local elections in May. It has the possibility of adding to its current total of two councillors in these mainly inner ring seats. There is also the outside chance one or two more candidates being selected in future.
Having a small but vocal
Group on the Council standing up to Islamophobia, opposing privatisation and speaking out against the war and in defence of democratic rights would be a big asset for the Birmingham labour movement. The Labour left that used to do things like this has vanished.
Local Respect has played a big part in opposing the media hysteria over the alleged kidnap plot, with some success, and its record bears no comparison to the silence from the main political parties. Many press conterences have been held; there has been much lobbying. Salma Yacoob in particular has built an impressive national profile on the question. Yet at the February Council meeting the issue was not even discussed.
The only life outside of Respect has come from the Lib Dems via an anti-war resolution at the January meeting. (Respect controversially walked out with the Labour Party, citing the undemocratic nature of the debate when the Lib Dems refused to accept an amendment to support the demonstration against the war on February 24, or any debate.)
There have been some sharp internal disagreements recently, as is inevitable in a new formation that brings together people from diverse backgrounds and traditions. One centred on the all-male, Get the facts from Keep Our NHS Public campaigns, a searchable archive of up to date information culled from the local and national press, background briefing material, sign up, affillate, and help build the campaign. all-Asian/Muslim slate for the Council. It is good that more candidates are standing this year, but the slate is in contrast to the good proportion of women who stood last time, and is a step backwards that must be corrected in future.
Respect must be seen to be representing all groups of the oppressed. There was also a disagreement about how long members would need to join in order to participate in selection meetings. A year as in the Labour Party is too long and a few days too short. Two or threee months would be more appropriate, but that would need a national rule established at the next conference. The last City committee meeting agreed to look at the issue.
Active support will be given to the local Organising fighting Unions" conference as well as the NHS Day of Action and the main anti-war demonstration itself.
If you add to this the profile and huge workload of Salma Yaqoob, the recent defection of a Lib Dem councillor, high profile campaigning against NHS cuts and a recent influx of Muslim members, there are clearly some positive features to be seen.
Yet, to turn Birmingham Respect towards a serious mass party, we need another, bigger influx of members; trades unionists, the black community and other oppressed groups.
We need to reach out where possible beyond the inner ring to the mainly white Council estates. This means taking up many of the social and economic issues included in our detailed manifesto; housing, transport, education and the environment, as well as its stock issues of antiracism and anti-war. Campaigns are fighting back against cuts, closures and peivatisation across the country: and one source which offers links to many local campaign advice and much more is the Keep Our NHS Public website. KONP urgently needs funds to resource its campaigning activity and research into the new year. Make sure you and your organisation www.keepournhspublic.com