Why we need a political fund

Jim Lowe (Devon NUT)

PUBLIC-SECTOR trade unions have been under the cosh from this New Labour government almost since the first day it took office.

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It is the New Labour government’s policies that have, unfortunately, forced some despairing sections of the working class into voting for the BNP.

espite promises of more money on education, health and other public services the reality – as any public-sector worker knows – is one of increasing workload and attacks on our conditions.

On a number of occasions, public-sector unions have come together to fight against this government – most notably the success which was achieved on pensions. But, many trade union activists feel that something over and above that is needed.

In the past trade unions that were affiliated to the Labour Party tried to influence the party’s policy and programme to benefit working people – often with success.

Now, even those unions affiliated to the Labour Party find themselves blocked and ignored at every turn.

It is clear that Labour does not represent the interests of working-class people and trade unionists anymore and an extensive debate is taking place in the unions and amongst people on the Left about the need to build a political alternative to represent trade unionists and working-class people.

It is in this context that the debate at this year’s NUT conference on whether or not to have a political fund will occur.

Some members will say why bother having a political fund at all when all the establishment parties are attacking trade unionists and there does not appear to be a clearly defined alternative at present for working people to vote for.

One of the arguments put forward in favour of a political fund is that it will allow the union to campaign ‘politically’ against far-right organisations like the BNP.

This is an important argument for having a political fund as currently the NUT cannot oppose the racist BNP and speak out against them at election time. But we shouldn’t restrict our fund just to these purposes. We face other serious threats besides the BNP.

Our lack of a political fund also means that the union cannot oppose New Labour’s education ‘reforms’ (or any of the other parties who may be doing the same at local level) when it might hurt them most – at election time.

A political fund - a separate fund from general union monies that can be used to support political campaigns - doesn’t just mean providing financial support to campaigns, but gives the union greater legal rights to speak out on political issues.

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The NUT could look at linking up with other public-sector unions … to support candidates standing in defence of well-funded local public services

aving a political fund will be a positive step forward because it will allow the union to more explicitly campaign on educational issues during election campaigns and be able to actively campaign against far-right parties such as the BNP and any other organisations that members see as potentially damaging to the education of children and the pay and conditions of teachers.

However, we have to be clear that campaigning against the BNP in elections does not mean we advocate supporting uncritically any of the establishment parties solely as a means of stopping the BNP being elected. It is the New Labour government’s policies that have, unfortunately, forced some despairing sections of the working class into voting for the BNP.

Advocating a vote for Labour, Tory or Liberal (or just saying vote anyone but BNP) will not convince people not to vote BNP as a protest against those policies.

What is needed is for the labour movement to put forward an alternative at elections – whether standing against the BNP or not – that convinces working people that there is an organisation standing in elections that is fighting for them and worth voting for.

However, as can be seen with the job losses and service cuts in the NHS, the fact that UNISON, the health union, continues to pour members money into New Labour coffers, using money from the political fund does not guarantee success. In fact, New Labour has consistently ignored and kicked in the teeth its affiliated unions no matter how much money they have poured into the party’s coffers.

The NUT should take steps towards establishing a political fund. And, unlike other unions with a political fund such as UNISON, having a political fund would not and could not mean the NUT supporting New Labour politically or financially – we would not be paying the same government that attacks us and pushes through damaging and divisive trust schools, academies, and performance pay.

Instead, the NUT could look at linking up with other public-sector unions that have a political fund but that are not affiliated to the Labour Party – such as PCS, RMT and FBU - to support candidates standing in defence of well-funded local public services, workers’ rights and decent pay and against privatisation, cuts and warmongering.

This would be an important step forward and would inspire many union members that at last the unions were taking the political campaign against New Labour more seriously and using a political fund to good effect.

However, beyond that, what is needed is a new political party founded by and democratically run by workers for workers and public services in Britain and internationally.

That is why Socialist Party Teachers support the Campaign for a New Workers’ Party, an initiative arising from the frustration and anger at a lack of a mass alternative to the three shades of the same policies currently on the menu.

Already over 2,500 trade unionists, community campaigners and youth have signed the declaration supporting the campaign to build such a party.

One of those signatories is Dr Jackie Grunsell, elected as a Councillor for the Save Huddersfield NHS campaign last May. Jackie, a GP, Socialist Party member, and active campaigner against hospital closures, will be speaking in Harrogate at the Socialist Party Teachers’ Fringe Meeting at Monday April 9^th, 8pm in the Grants Hotel.

Jackie’s election onto Kirklees council is a good example of how trade unions and community campaigns can use elections to challenge the policies of both the BNP and the main political parties – and win!

For once, local voters realised there was a candidate worth going out to vote for. As a result, her Crosland Moor and Netherton ward had the highest turnout in Kirklees. Dr. Jackie Grunsell’s majority of 807 was one of the highest in the country!

By standing, the Save Huddersfield NHS Campaign was able to highlight the issue of hospital cuts and closures and give local people the opportunity to elect a councillor who was prepared to stand up to the cuts policies of the establishment parties. It’s an example that campaigners against academies and school closures should also follow – as could the NUT if we had a political fund to support such candidates.

But it wasn’t just Labour, Liberals and the Tories that got hammered. The BNP’s vote was squeezed as well. This shows how the BNP can be fought – by offering voters a real electoral alternative. It’s vital that we cut across the growth of the BNP by building a new workers’ party that can offer real answers to the many disenfranchised voters that have had enough of the big business policies of the establishment parties.

Campaign for a New Workers’ Party Conference

Saturday 12 May

12 – 5 pm

(registration opens at 11 am)

University College London, Cruciform Building, Gower St, London WC1.

(nearest tubes Euston, Euston Square and Goodge St)

To register for the CNWP Conference or to find out more visit www.cnwp.org.uk