PI-FAS SKIN Our unions and socialism' at the conference. THE LCC'S conference Central Hall, Westminster, on 18 July will undoubtedly be one of the most important rank and file trade union conferences held this year.
Given the wave of struggles like Laurence Scott, Lee Jeans and Rover which are taking place, and the political developments around" events for Jobs and Tony Benn's campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, the conterence is ilkelv to be attended by hundreds of trade union eager to discuss the way forward.
Benn The last LCC trade union conference in November was a shambles Challenge supporters had not turned out TOTCC. there would have been only around But OCODIC DI COCHIL. political situation has changed.
The LCC closely associated with the politics of Tony and his election campaign has electrified the Socialist Challenge IN preparation for its trade union conference in July, the Labour Co-ordinating Committee has produced a pamphlet 'The trade which argues for breaking down the traditional divides between the 'industrial' and It also backs the Alternative Economic BRIAN HERON looks at the political case put forward in the pamphlet, which will be an important under-pinning of the debates at ing. . up a furious debate on policy in both the Labour Party and the trade unions.
It is to Benn that the most advanced militants are looking, and against une millancy Wal these represent Foot and Healey have firmly set themselves.
According to the LCC, Pete Rowlands' pamphlet first serious assessment of Britains trade union from a committed Labour left perspective In fact it is a dreadful mishmash of borrowed ideas, which attempts pessimistic view of the state of combine the class struggle (one not too dissimilar that of Socialist Workers Party, with gradualist and right-wing political strategy, reminiscent of the Communist Party's Road Socialism'. The two are closely Conccica.
Rowlands argues that 'during decade of economic crisis sand much period precedented industrial militancy, a socialist breakthrough has 18 June 1981 Page 8 not been made; indeed socialist ideas are under widespread attack' Further, since the election of the Tories their attacks 'have met with little response' and the "trade moved slightly to the right'. We take sharp issue with this assessment below, central argumentation is how we got into this situation through the debacle of the government because it is on the basis of this argumentation that Rowlands draws his wrong conclusions about the relationship of trade union militancy and socialist strategy tives.
Apparently where we are now because of the failure of the government's social that which explained by failure of the leaders to fight for the Alternative Economic Strategy: the Doomed movement 'Short of a substantial implementation any reparation had been done, th ocal contract was mieve! doomed.
This failure to the AES was due to the unions "bureaucratic moteness from their membertoo ship and aversion to busning their political role... to the 'anguish of the Winter of Discontent which led not BH) to revolution or a radical lett government. but the most mounting' reactionary government since for the 1930s'.
There we have it! But all is not lost since 'the ebbing away ofmilitancy Rowlands' DUEWId Labour and objecarrived Labour contract, the trade union of the AES, for political push the debate around many issues' Pre- militancy and led to as produced.
Kitson, the last few left. years' has produced a 'healthy last Labour If there is an ebbing away of something better be done quick because the present AES, surge of the Labour left is not The Social Contract of the government was doomed, not because the union leaders talled to fight for the but because in reality it The working class is on the defensive. A political battle is taking place in the workers movement to hammer new perspective.
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'political' wings of the movement. Strategy.