I don't think you can post this in libcommunity and then dictate the nature by which people should respond in fairness.
"Hi I'm posting looking serious discussion so I'm choosing the forum where it's least likely to happen in which to do it"
National Shop Stewards Network Conference
I certainly would be interested in hearing a report. I wasn't at the NSSN Conference, but have been an active anarcho-syndicalist since the 1970s. So.... there are some of us who would be interested in a libertarian take on the conference. Thus far I've only read reports in the socialist press.
Thanks.
xConorx wrote:
I don't think you can post this in libcommunity and then dictate the nature by which people should respond in fairness."Hi I'm posting looking serious discussion so I'm choosing the forum where it's least likely to happen in which to do it"
moved to organise
xConorx wrote:
I don't think you can post this in libcommunity and then dictate the nature by which people should respond in fairness."Hi I'm posting looking serious discussion so I'm choosing the forum where it's least likely to happen in which to do it"
Well if you could possibly suggest a better place to ask I will certainly post there instead. I live in the states and was only in the UK for a week for the NSSN conference. I was looking for input from folks, particularly from an anarchist / libertarian-communist perspective, and this is one of the few forums I know of where people discuss these issues.
I know serious discussion very rarely happens here. But I figured this is a good a place as any to ask for input on the shop stewards network.
*shrug*...or maybe nobody has an opinion one way or another 
conor was referring to you posting in the libcommunity forum as opposed to on libcom per se - i've moved the thread to organise. i know there's at least a couple of shop stewards on here, but i don't know if they have any involvement with/knowledge of the NSSN. i thought i heard through the grapevine it's a trot dominated initiative, but happy to be corrected...
Hello, I would be interested in hearing a serious report from a libertarian perspective. I've real all the socialist website articles on the event. Perhaps Gurley or the Solfed member on the NSSN committee could give a report...or PM me with one.
Thanks for the time.
Yeah, there was a report on it in the Solidarity Federation internal bulletin about it a while back.. I think the general jist of it was positive (hence the involvement on the national steering committee) but that there were also clearly some internal Trot power games being played. I think stuff like the Campaign to Build a New Workers' Party (Socialist Party and maybe some other small Trot groups.. Workers' Power?) peddling their wares while wearing their 'Trade Unionist' hat.
But yeah, overall it seemed positive from what I read but there just needs to be a vigilant eye on whether it becomes another party recruitment vehicle or not...
Basically there's a 3 way political battle going on -
Some Trots (mainly SP) want it to basically become an appendage of Campaign for a New Workers Party.
A few trots, independents anarchists (very small number) and random assorted others want it to become a genuine network of militants ala the JSSC
Trade union bureaucrat types (mainly RMT) and assorted fellow travellers want it to be similar to the above, but more toothless and basically controlled by the left of the TU movement.
Against my better judgement I'm probably going to get involved, but I'm not the most optimistic.
There should be something in the next DA and there may be a short piece in the next Catalyst, though space prevents going into a lot of detail in the latter.
Basically, the members we have involved in this don't tend to come on here, so all you're getting is second hand.
Regards,
Martin
I was just in London for the NSSN.
I was curious if anyone else from Lib Com was there and what you thought of it ? Please only respond if you were actually at this or other conferences. I know there are plenty of people on this site who disagree with the NSSN and trade unions in general. I'm interested in hearing from people who have actually attended this or past conferences/meetings and/or who are involved with the network.