There has been quite a lot said about the disciplinary of the four Socialist party workers by the national union. Jon of the Rogers and John of the Gray plus a number of others have reported on this. My own opinion (and that of other free thinkers) is that the issue for which the 4 (sounds like the gang of 4 and Chinese Hegemony syndrome) did not commit a big crime worthy of us spending so much time on. I am a Trade Union activist who believes in collective responsibility and I do not accept that individuals within a progressive and constructive movement have the right to always go out and do their own thing and that they should all follow a line once it has been agreed nationally but I can't see (unless someone explains this better to me) why the national union is making such a big thing out of this? Are they actually secret Glenn Kelly supporters who are slowly building his profile up by making him into a big hero?? Looks like that from where I am standing??
At the end of the day we are a democratic union with the best structures and we should all remember that we have procedures that have been agreed over the years to debate and agree policy and once we do that then the line must be followed. Small groups within the union with their own agendas have the right to hold their views but when it comes to collective decisions made by conference the line has been drawn and we must all follow that line So a balance between the right to have democratic rights to debate and the obligation to follow an agreed line must be struck. But I can't on this occasion see why we are all been made to take notice of this incident when in my opinion it isn't that much of an issue? Can the NEC not tell them off instead of hiring venues in central London at great cost to discipline them?
Interesting way to see things but a lot of BWG members were deeply upset with the incident (as you put it) maybe you should look at how they feel first? There is nothing heroic about GK and co
ReplyDeleteMargaret
"Small groups within the union with their own agendas have the right to hold their views but when it comes to collective decisions made by conference the line has been drawn and we must all follow that line So a balance between the right to have democratic rights to debate and the obligation to follow an agreed line must be struck."
ReplyDeleteMembers must have the right to campaign to change policy otherwise Dave Prentis could not have called on the Labour Link Committee to suspend all CDP's.