SERTUC annual report 2 01 5 President’s foreword About the region SERTUC, the Southern & Eastern Region of Committee. I have tried to chair Regional the TUC, is the largest of the TUC’s regions Council, and other meetings, in my own and covers three European parliamentary sensitive way, encouraging debate and constituencies: London, the South East, and seeking progressive consensus, welcoming East of England. Two million trades unionists constructive contributions, whilst vigorously live and work within the region. discouraging attempts to raise matters under The Regional Council is appointed annually Any Other Business, not because it delayed This is my last year as the President of by affiliates and county associations of trades impending moments of relaxation in the SERTUC. Tony Benn once said that he had councils and meets four times a year to pub, but because any sharp political operator five questions for anyone acting in a discuss both how to achieve policy would have worked their intervention into leadership role; “What power have you got? determined at the national Trades Union the main agenda somewhere. I hope that I Where did you get it from? In whose Congress and to make specific policies on was always available to talk to delegates face interests do you exercise it? To whom are regional issues. At its Annual General to face, or on the phone, and I certainly was you accountable? And how can we get rid of Meeting it elects officers and an Executive always pleased to talk to them as equals, on you? If you cannot get rid of the people who Committee that meets monthly. picket lines, at meetings and demonstrations, govern you, you do not live in a democratic and so on. Again I had my limits; and those Affiliated trade unions and county system.” limits were ‘email’ and ‘social media’. associations also nominate to SERTUC’s I have been fortunate to be elected as the If something was worth saying, then it was industrial and equality subgroups who use President of the Regional Council of the worth saying to me face to face. their workplace and life experience to Southern and Eastern Regional Trades Union inform the activities of the Regional Council. We need class analysis, class consciousness, Congress for 20 years. Any authority that I hope, courage, principle, discipline, SERTUC staff administer the Regional had during those years was derived from the organisation, unity and action. Council, deliver services to affiliates, support of the delegates to the Regional SERTUC I want to thank everyone I worked with on represent the TUC in relations with public Council that were drawn from the family of Congress House the Regional Council and Executive bodies, campaign for Congress policies, and unions in our region, which themselves have Great Russell Street Committee, but to offer a special thanks to deliver learning and education to workers in two million trade union members, working London WC1B 3LS Barry Camfield, who for many years was the Region. in every part of our economy, and from Vice-Chair, Anita Halpin also Vice Chair, and 020 7467 1220 delegates from County Associations of There are 11 members of staff and a full list the current Vice Presidents Tony Lennon and Trades Councils that organise in every part with contact details is on page 44. [email protected] Linda Perks. I want to thank Mick Connolly and corner of our region. and Megan Dobney, the Regional Secretaries I have always been accountable to the with whom I worked so closely and whose Regional Council and its Executive commitment and passion I admire. And I 1 Secretary’s introduction want to thank those in the SERTUC office I believe that the President of SERTUC is a It’s been a grim year – both politically with Williams have been joined by many team who have always made me welcome key role in the trade union movement in this class conscious government continuing volunteers – enabling a much wider spread and supported my work on the Regional Britain. I remain convinced that SERTUC is a its consistent attack on workers and our of work to be carried out. So thanks to Council’s behalf: Sue, Darren, Jo, Matt, John, force for good and a force for change, that it services, but also personally, with the loss of John Ball, David Braniff-Herbert, Mike Jane and Laurie. has an established and growing leadership some dear friends and comrades – Nicholas Carver, Suha Din Abdul, Alice Dupont, Joel People are mortal, and life can be fragile, and role in the trade union movement and Russell (Unison), Tony Kelly (Suffolk CATC), Kosminsky, Dick Muskett, Baljit Panesar, I have lost some dear comrades in the past, whomsoever is the next elected President, Linda Kietz (CWU and SERTUC EC), Jim Peta Steel and Tom Taylor . Add to them the like Jack Amos. But this year was peppered will have a critically important job to do. Carty (USDAW) and Mick Connolly (former superb work carried out by the officers and with the deaths of leading trade unionists. This annual report merely hints at some of SERTUC regional secretary). activists on our Regional Council and sub- May Day in London was a fitting tribute to the work that SERTUC has delivered in the Nonetheless the struggle continued with a groups and we are indeed a mighty force to Bob Crow and Tony Benn, two giants of the last year, and I am proud of our sharp response from many unions to the be reckoned with! labour movement. Recently we lost both achievements. The present government has specific attacks they have faced. SERTUC has It’s also been a very positive year for Nick Mick Connolly and Linda Kietz, who were practised class war on the British people; sought to support all affiliates and some of Phillips who leads London Unemployed key figures in SERTUC’s work. It remains our it has been government for the rich by the the actions are described in this report. Strategies, funded by Trust for London and duty to work tirelessly to continue their rich. There is a clear choice at the General SERTUC staff, whether focussed on Regional based inthe SERTUC office. However, we are principled work. As Joe Hill very nearly said, Election in May. The entire welfare state is at Council work, or on our learning and now facing the end of the grant and are “Don’t mourn. Organise.” jeopardy and further attacks on trade education agenda, are key of course and the seeking further funding with optimism. During my leadership SERTUC has sought unionists’ right to strike are impending. beginning of 2 01 5 saw the (during the life of But for me the biggest event of the year – to be a progressive, left and dynamic political But whatever government emerges in May, this government) usual cut to unionlearn yet to happen – is the retirement of our force within the trade union movement, part we can be certain that it will not be as funding. So many congratulations to Stuart President, Martin Gould . I have worked with of the TUC, and yet independent in thought, radical or as principled as we might wish, so Barber who is seconded to Carshalton Martin both as a former activist for the print supporting workers in struggle and having we, trade unionists, trade unions, SERTUC College to work with them for a year on a unions and as Regional Secretary. principle based on the long term vision of and the TUC, have a massive long-term job major project with the Construction Industry I can firmly say that no TUC bureaucrat socialism won through struggle. The struggles to do. Training Board; Union Support Officer could ask for a better President! Wise, have been many; against privatisation, anti- I am retiring as President of SERTUC so “I Adrian Ryan who will take on the Senior humane and available, he has been a rock union laws, union busting employers, factory declare this meeting closed!”, but rest USO role, and Oreleo Du Cran who will over my nine years in this office. His political closures, against racism and fascism etc. assured, I am not retiring from politics and I lead on the promotion of apprenticeships in guidance has been invaluable and he will be There have been wins and there have been am as confident as ever that trade unionism the Region. And my thanks again to our TU a hard act to follow. Thankyou so much losses, but the strength of our arguments, remains the Hope of the World and that the Education colleagues, Rob Hancock, Phil Martin, and good wishes for the future. quality of our organisation and our unity in future belongs to us. Gowan, Jaspal Ghtoray and Alyx Jenkins . action has always been the key test – as our Megan Dobney Once again our dedicated office team of Regional Secretary solidarity in 1984 with the NUM showed. Martin Gould SERTUC President Laurie Heselden, Darren Lewis and Joanne 2 3 SERTUC campaigns and events SERTUC’s campaign work during the year was framed by the TUC’s Campaign Plan and the motions passed at Regional Council. The five pillars many agencies working on the issue are of the TUC’s Campaign acting together and productively. Plan are: The theme of the TUC’s third national I Growth and quality jobs talked with very many workers who were demonstration on 18 October, was Britain by publicising their cause. We supported I Fair pay for all suffering dismal terms and conditions of Needs a Pay Rise and SERTUC was pleased Unite workers at St Mungos, fighting against I Quality public services and decent welfare employment and two issues that were to mobilise for the event and to provide proposed pay cuts.