Who is involved here? Just trying to get a handle on things. Think this is one of the most important development in the UK in many, many years.
Apr 18 2007 07:48
Apr 18 2007 08:14
Rail, Maritime and Transport union - the most powerful union in the UK which organises across the whole transport sector. General Secretary is Bob Crow. There are three unions in the TUC which are seen as being a bit 'awkward' (leadership used refered to as 'the awkward squad' till they turned out to be the same old, same old...), the PCS, the FBU, and the RMT. Rank and file pressure within the RMT has led to the now officially sanctioned stewards network, for all stewards of TUC unions. Obviously that's a very significant development. I'm keen to see who's a steward and who's involved at this stage.
Apr 18 2007 08:45
From their website: -
Quote:
1. Participation and support is a matter for individual TUC affiliated trade unions.2. The National Shop Stewards Network will be made up of bona fide rank and file TUC affiliated trade union workplace representatives. The participation of full time trade union officials would be as observers with speaking rights.
3. It would not encroach on the established organisation and recruitment activity or interfere in the internal affairs and elections of TUC affiliated trade unions or the functions of the TUC.
4. The aim of the Network would be
• To offer support to TUC affiliated trade unions in their campaigns and industrial disputes;
• To offer support to existing workplace committees and trades councils.
The founding conference was attended by SolFed members who are also shop stewards (none of them post on here, IIRC), and this initiative will be discussed at the forthcoming SolFed national conference.
Speaking purely personally, [no, fuck it. Let's wait until after conference ;)]
For the time being, I've highlighted the most "interesting" parts of their aims.
Oct 16 2007 16:11
the button wrote:
http://www.shopstewards.net/The founding conference was attended by SolFed members who are also shop stewards (none of them post on here, IIRC), and this initiative will be discussed at the forthcoming SolFed national conference.
Speaking purely personally, [no, fuck it. Let's wait until after conference ;)]
There are regional meetings for this network coming up for London and the South East on Sunday 21 October and for Wales on Sunday 28 October. This has been raised on Royal Mail Chat and presumably the postal dispute will be a big issue.
What are people's opinions about the shop stewards network?
What was the outcome of the discussion at the Solfed conference?
Oct 16 2007 16:23
POA (Prison Officers Association) are speaking at the London one. Says a lot.
I think it reflects the fact that there's a bit of growing militancy the past couple of years, and that where that militancy shows its face, the unions are a brake on it. However it's completely the wrong solution to this issue an is likely to tie militant shop stewards closer to the bureaucracy rather than breaking them away from it.
Can comment on articles and discussions
RMT?