The real work...

I was involved with a debate this evening with a number of friends outside the branch who have a number of opinions on how things should be done. My message to them was simple and easy. The real work at branch level dealing with members on front line is to have a strong structure that allows democratic debate and promotes progression of new and existing activists to a level where they are able to deal with bread and butter issues like representing members at disciplinary hearings, sickness panels, reorganisations and a plethora of other things that take up the majority of our time. Having debates about whether Marks or Spencer had the right theory in the 18th century is interesting, fascinating and sometimes not that boring but to keep going on about that is a bit out of date. The simple fact is 98% of the membership will support a leadership that delivers major aims and objectives and aspirations that are shared by the vast majority of the membership So whilst I will defend the right of anyone (excluding far right idiots) to say what they want to say I have in the past made it clear that the real work of those involved in protecting members interest is around the negotiating table and other panels where representation is needed. Its easy to attack those in 'leadership positions' but a bit meaningless when those aspiring to have that task assigned to them are not able to do the day to day work that is needed.