Conference round up
Union Matters April 22 2018Important policy on public ownership in our postal and telecoms industries was agreed this afternoon, following a broad-ranging discussion, which touched upon the need for meaningful democratic control.
Most of the discussion focussed on Royal Mail and also BT, but Bootle Financial Services delegate Dan Lewis urged his fellow delegates and the CWU leadership to include the financial services sector in this debate as well.
In his reply to the debate, general secretary Dave Ward said that the Labour Party leadership, with serious input from the CWU is “doing some new thinking on this.”
“We’re not going back to the 1970s, but we are working together to develop new forms.of.public ownership and democratic control,” he explained.
The fight against racism and all its forms will be stepped up and taken forward in the coming period, conference pledged, by backing a strongly worded motion on the matter.
Delegates also heard an inspiring speech from today’s guest speaker Christine Blower – from the “Show Racism the Red Card” campaign – and they showed their support for the struggle when they all stood and raised their “Red Card” posters in unison.
On international issues, conference expressed its “disgust” at the atrocities being committed against the Rohingya people on Myanmar and passed a motion to press the Government to seek action from the UN to end the suffering.
On a busy opening day, conference also discussed, debated and agreed policy on a range of other issues, including assaults on emergency workers and improving access to mental health support.
The government’s mishandling of the “universal credit scheme” was roundly condemned, as was the PFI system and outsourcing within the NHS.
And there was a warm CWU welcome for our second guest speaker, the Honourable Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Belshill – our very own Hugh Gaffney MP.