Campaigning to Break the Unions from ‘Social Partnership’

No 9 March 14th 2004

Issue 11 of SOLIDARITY was at the printers when news emerged of the adoption by the FBU Executive of a proposal in relation to the Political Fund to put to the union AGM in May (11th-14th). For your information we reproduce below the resolution which was passed.

The Executive has adopted a position similar to that of the RMT, enabling Regions to support parties other than Labour. This represents a big defeat for the Gilchrist leadership, which has adopted this position as their only chance of preventing a vote for disaffiliation from the Labour Party.

Such is the disgust at the role of the government in the dispute that delegates may well vote to disaffiliate. Strathclyde, Northern Ireland and Berkshire have moved resolutions calling for disaffiliation (see below). However, if the AGM does vote to disaffiliate from New Labour the question of what to do with the political fund would be left unanswered. That is why the London Region has proposed an amendment which reads:

“In future Regional Committees shall be given authority to give political and financial support to candidates who stand in opposition to New Labour providing such candidates are supportive of the policies and principles of the Fire Brigades Union. Such decisions will not need to be referred to the Executive Council before implementation.”

The London Region has also proposed amending the Kent resolution (shown below).

“Delete second sentence and replace with Conference accepts that this policy may bring our union into conflict with the rules of the Labour Party. Conference notes that the RMT has adopted a very similar policy in relation to the Labour Party. In the event of any disciplinary action being taken against this union by the Labour Party, Conference instructs the Executive Council to approach the RMT and other trade unions and labour movement organisations for a campaign to defend our right to use our political funds as we see fit.”

In practice, if the Regions support other candidates or Parties (even though affiliation is not mentioned) it is liable to lead to expulsion of the FBU from Labour. This will open up the possibility of collaboration between the RMT and FBU at a Regional level.

SOLIDARITY will be organising a meeting in London in April to discuss this situation regarding the political funds. Details will follow next week.

FBU AGM Resolutions

45. LABOUR PARTY AFFILIATION

This Conference demands that the FBU disaffiliates from the Labour Party Nationally. This Conference, therefore, under Rule 29 of the FBU Rule Book, withdraws authority for Labour Party National Affiliation. STRATHCLYDE

46. LABOUR PARTY AFFILIATION

This Conference withdraws the authority given under Rule 29 to affiliate to the Labour Party. NORTHERN IRELAND

47. LABOUR PARTY DISAFFILIATION

Conference instructs the Executive Council to take the necessary action (including if necessary a revision of rules) to initiate and action a total disaffiliation of the Fire Brigades Union from the Labour Party. BERKSHIRE

48. DONATIONS

Conference demands that Regions be allowed to donate monies to other political parties and / or candidates, even if they stand in opposition to Labour. In drawing up any needed Rule Changes to allow this, Conference reaffirms its wishes to still remain affiliated to the Labour Party. KENT

FBU Executive Council Statement on Restructuring the Political Work of the Union

The National Executive Council acknowledge the FBU membership’s anger at Government tactics used during the pay dispute. But there is also a general disillusion with the direction of Government policy, the abandoning of agreed Labour conference policy without discussion and the dumping of manifesto commitments, likewise, before discussion.

Many within the Party, not only other unions, are also deeply unhappy with Government. Disillusion and anger at a Labour Government is not the same as anger and disillusion with the Labour Party and we should continue to work with others within the Party who also wish to see meaningful change in policy direction and in the conduct of Government.

We wish to ensure disillusion with Government should not lead to disengagement from the political process. Our response should be to revitalise and reinvigorate our political work and build a strategy that best serves the interests of members and the public which we serve.

The whole constitutional and political map of the UK is changing and will continue to change. We must look to recent moves by Government to devolve responsibility for fire services to Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and in future, possibly, regional assemblies.

The Fire Brigades Union, therefore, should carry out a root and branch restructuring of its political work to ensure that our political activities are best directed at achieving the aspirations of our members at national, regional and local level.

The Executive Council recommends:

1) Reducing our affiliation to the Party to £20, 000, using the money freed up for wider political campaigns and political work;

2) Allow members more flexibility nationally and regionally to use the political fund in pursuit of the union’s objectives;

3) Restructure and increase the political work of the union nationally and regionally to take account of the major constitutional changes within the UK now and in the future;

4) Produce regular reports (including an annual report to Conference) indicating the breadth of the Union’s political work;

5) Increase the political education work of the union;

6) Widen the current parliamentary group to ensure a greater impact on policy making now and in the future;

7) Allow the FBU Political Fund to be used in future to support organisations whose policies are supportive of the policies and principles of this Union.

8) Introduce Rule changes to give effect to the above.

Furthermore, having considered decisions taken at the 2001 Annual Conference, the Executive Council recommend adopting the position set out in Resolution 101 at that Conference:

“Conference agrees that the Fire Brigades Union Political Fund will in future be used to support candidates and organisations whose policies are supportive of the policies and principles of this Union. This may include candidates and organisations who stand in opposition to New Labour so long as they uphold policies and principles in line with those of the Fire Brigades Union.”

The above restructuring of the Union’s political work is seeking to ensure that the Political Fund serves the interests of members and the public ultimately.