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The NSSN and the Right to Work

 

Last Saturday 27th February the NSSN National Steering Committee held one of its regular meetings. A whole range of important items were on the agenda, one of which was a discussion on the relationship between the NSSN and The Right To Work. It had become apparent that there has been some confusion about the establishment of another organisation with the same aims and attempting to get support from the very same union branches. We hope the following resolution, that was fully discussed and then carried 19 to 10 (3 abstentions) will clarify the situation.
 

The NSSN originated from one of the most militant and fighting trade unions the RMT and its general secretary Bob Crow, out of their conference decisions about the crisis of political representation. In 2006 an eleven-strong committee was elected at an open meeting to begin the process of "rebuilding the shop stewards movement". It was helped with some financial assistance and with the following remit:-

 

A National Shop Stewards Network should be set up on the following basis:
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 2007 Founding Conference endorsed that remit as its founding resolution and elected a Steering Committee.

Since then the NSSN has been able to establish itself both at national and regional level with national conferences in 2008 and 2009. Other national unions have given their support like CWU and PCS. NSSN Conferences attracted hundreds of shop stewards and workplace representatives as well as ordinary trade union members, and involved those leading from the front in serious battles with the bosses e.g. Lindsay, Linamar and Visteon. Workshops sessions involved migrant workers, young workers and students, women workers, and fighting racism in the workplace. All were welcomed to participate, with a focus on shop stewards/workplace reps to establish some real weight to the organisation. This includes workers made unemployed, and youngsters in part-time jobs, a growing force, which will increasingly have to be taken up by the trade union movement generally and the NSSN in particular. This work is also mirrored in regions e.g. Fords Southampton, GSK and others. Many involved from the beginning valued the NSSN as a serious organisation and did all they could to make it a success, and the nature of the NSSN as a loose network gave space to all who wanted to fight against the bosses and attacks on workers' rights and conditions in their locality, workplace or sector.

 

We view therefore with some concern the setting up of the Right To Work (RTW) by the SWP and their allies which is attempting to occupy the same ground as the NSSN, to appeal to the same union branches and national unions. This will only confuse the situation in the eyes of workers and has the potential to fragment the fight-back. We note that previous attempts of this character have failed, because, unlike the NSSN they have not been firmly rooted in the unions and workplaces, and have not been seen as an open unifying force.

 

We are further concerned that members of the SWP who are well represented both on the Steering Committee and Officers of the NSSN are attempting to initiate a rival organisation. The Steering Committee, consisting of first and foremost shop stewards/workplace reps, as set out by the Chair, has worked tirelessly to take the NSSN forward whenever and wherever possible, and have cooperated with trade unionists of all shades of political opinion in activities, and discussions.

 

For the above reasons this NSSN Steering Committee declines to accept the invitation of the offer of two seats on the RTW Steering Committee and urge all to channel their energies into the building of NSSN.

   

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National Shop Stewards Network

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