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0607a <strong>Aslef</strong> journal.qxd 29/6/06 13:55 Page 6<strong>CONFERENCE</strong> NEWS■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The ASLEF Journal July 2006Trade unions deservetheir freedomsays Carolyn Jones, the Directorof the Institute of EmploymentRightsIT WAS an honour to addressthe ASLEF Conference – andeven nicer to get a letterafterwards from a BranchSecretary thanking me for mycontribution and taking out asubscription to the Institute ofEmployment Rights!.So what’s our call for a TradeUnion Freedom Bill (which hasthe support of the TUC andLabour Party conferences) allabout?It has five basic principles:● Better protection for strikingworkers● Simpler and fairer industrialaction ballots and noticeprocedures● Restricted use of injunctionsby employers● Allowing solidarity action incertain circumstances● Preventing the use ofreplacement labour duringstrikesThere’s nothing too revolutionaryhere! These are basictrade union freedoms, enshrinedin international law and enjoyedby workers throughout Europe.And yet the proposed bill hascome under criticism from threemain areas.The media and the CBI claimthat the Bill would take us backto the 1970s. But the world ofwork has changed and our lawsneed to catch up. We needeffective, independent tradeunions to prevent suchexploitation as outsourcing workand sacking employees by textmessage – ludicrous things inthe fifth richest nation in theworld in the 21st century!The second critics are thosewithin our movement who sayour demands are too modest.We agree – but we see this Billas a first step on a long roadback to healthy trade unionism.The most disappointing criticsare those who say this TradeUnion Freedom Bill will neverhappen. Some believe ourcurrent laws produces the rightbalance and that there is noneed for change. Others say ourdemands are too controversialand if we dare to speak of theright to strike the country willvote Labour out. Yet others say ifonly unions would becomepartners with employerseverything would be OK.Such critics fail to face up tothe realities of the modern worldof work. Current UK laws fail tomeet international standards ontrade union freedoms. Labourwas elected promising to deliverfairness at work - but fairness atwork means freedom for unions.Without union freedoms,individual rights remain beyondthe reach of too many workers.So over the summer, JohnHendy, QC will be working withthe TUC in drafting a Bill wehope will be presented inDecember, the 100th anniversaryof the Trade Disputes Act, 1906,which gave unions the freedomto organise action in support oftheir members. Many nowbelieve the time is right to asktoday’s politicians – which sideare you on?That’s why the Institute ofEmployment asks you to do twothings.● First, get your MP to supportEDM 1170.● Second, become a TradeUnion Freedom Bill Sponsor.You can do both by visitingthe IER’s website atwww.ier.org.uk6
C O N F E R E N C E N E W S ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The ASLEF Journal July 2006‘Democracy isexpensive’ –finance reportWHILE the union’sfinances are makingsteady progress, itsauditors areconcerned thatmore efforts mustbe made toreduce deficits.There have been‘unexpected’expenses, including problemswith the staff pension fund,but, as ASLEF finance headTony Yates-Watson points out,‘Deficit is a worrying trend.’The union has a responsi-‘I OPPOSED the war in Iraq fromthe very start – but that ishistory,’ Dave Anderson, MP forBlaydon told delegates toASLEF’s conference. ‘Our tasknow is to truly liberate thepeople of that country byhelping them to organisethemselves in strong, effectiveand independent trade unions.’Dave, a former coal miner andmember of the TUC’s generalcouncil, led a delegation of 8trade unionists to Iraq in Marchthis year – and admits that hehad not expected to be toldsome of the things he heard.‘Some Iraqi trade unionistswelcomed the invasion of theircountry because of the tortureand repression they hadsuffered under the Saddamregime.’However, there is strongcriticism of the new Iraqigovernment – which is distinctlyunhelpful to union organisation.‘The new Iraqi governmenthas issued a decree - 8750 –establishing a ‘committee ofinvestigation’ to see ‘under whatremit a trade union shouldorganise’ – and in the interim thegovernment will control all unionfinances and activities.ASLEF’s Head of Finance Tony Yates-Watsonbility to manage its financesresponsibly, because, as KeithNorman said, ‘This is not ourunion. We are just lookingafter it for the next generation.’The consensus was that weneeded to tighten belts wherethis proves possible – butwithout cutting back onservices to members. Analternative is to generate moremoney, a theme that sits wellwith a new determinedrecruitment campaign.However, the essentialproblem, as Tony points out, isthat ‘democracy is expensive’.The general secretary saidthe staff pension fund is beingrevalued, and that the objectiveis to ‘provide good terms andconditions for employees whichare sustainable by the union’He added that there would beno cut-backs in educationservice to members beforesome questions were raisedabout the level of union fundingfor the Labour Party. .‘We’ve invaded Iraq – now let’sliberate it’ demands MP‘Also, the new governmenthas failed to repeal decree 150 –which was introduced bySaddam and makes it illegal forpublic sector workers to belongto a trade union.‘This includes workers intransport, energy, welfare andlocal services.’Dave also reported moves inthe south to encourage theforming of sectarian trade unionsbased on religion. ‘This is both aformula for disaster and anaffront to the ideals of unionism.’Dave wants unions to committhemselves to supportingtraining programmes for Iraqiunionists, and individuals todonate surplus mobile phonesand computers through theTUC.‘It is terrible to see deprivationin a country that is rich inminerals and oil and hasmassive tourist potential.‘What it lacks is investment.’This is why Dave works hard –especially through LabourFriends of Iraq - to organisepolitical pressure that will makeit easier for Iraq to attract capital- without strings - to rebuild itseconomy and provide jobs forordinary Iraqi citizens.PERRY CALVERT chairedthe conference with amixture of good humourand good sensePensionscampaignTHE union campaign for fairpensions in the rail industrysecured the approval of the2006 conference despite somecriticisms that it had notsecured all its objectives. Somedelegates argued that whileunder current proposalsemployee contributions wouldnot rise over 10.56%, this hadbeen secured for a limited timeand not in perpetuity. However,the majority accepted that thecampaign so far hadsuccessfully protected thefunds and offered scope tocontinue and improve themwith the proposed RailPensions Commission.Most criticism was reservedfor the appalling waste that theprivatisation process hadcaused – leading to theformation of some 103 pensionschemes instead of theprevious one when rail was inpublic hands. It meant forexample that the cost of everyactruarial valuation is nowborne by the members of thescheme - and not the employer,as was the case previously.The Brady erais overASLEF conference delegatesdeclined to debate a propositioncalling for former generalsecretary Mr Brady to addressconference, coupled to efforts toconsider his reinstatement. Theyfelt it was pointless to discuss ‘apassed era’.One compelling reason wasthat the Certification Officer hadruled the previous week that MrBrady had legitimately beenexcluded from ASLEFmembership. Therefore, as he isnot an ASLEF member, he is noteligible within the union’s rulesto be general secretary.It was also pointed out that MrBrady could not be reinstatedbecause the union already hasa properly elected generalsecretary – who wouldpresumably have to bedismissed to bring Mr Bradyback.7
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