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    Unite executive committee apparently bowing to pro-Ukraine lobby Archived Message

    Posted by Ian M on July 17, 2023, 7:35 pm

    They had their policy conference July 11th-14th and initially only had one motion proposed on Ukraine from the 'Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Process and Textiles Regional Industrial Sector Committee for North East, Yorkshire and Humberside' (friends of yours, K264?) . Ukraine Solidarity Campaign objected that it didn't call for the removal of Russian troops and criticised NATO too much:

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    https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2023/06/25/will-unite-the-union-stand-with-ukraine/

    'It seems to me, at best, highly politically ambiguous. [...] Much of what the motion submitted to the conference says, sentence by sentence, is unobjectionable – though it is wrong to suggest NATO expansion was a significant cause of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The main problem is that it has little to say about the war or Ukraine as such. Having condemned the invasion, it then spends most of its words talking about Western hypocrisy, with few active conclusions about the war – not even a call for Russian withdrawal. Without even that, the call for a “peaceful resolution” shades into apologism for Russia (even if that was not the intention).

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    They were in favour of an amendment proposed by London and Eastern 524, Central London Voluntary Sector Branch which called for Russian troops out among other things. Full original text and amendment:


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    Motion 46. Ukraine

    Chemicals Pharmaceuticals, Process and Textiles RISC, North East, Yorkshire and Humberside

    Conference utterly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and fully supports the decision of the Unite Executive Council and branches to donate to the ITUC fund to support the Ukrainian refugees and Ukrainian trade unions.

    Conference also fully condemns the role that Putin has played in destabilising Europe and the US by supporting and funding extreme right politicians such as Trump in the US, Orban in Hungary, Le Pen in France, and the Vote Leave campaign in the UK. But Conference also notes the anti-trade union policies of the Zelensky government in Ukraine and urges caution against populist outright blind support of his government outside of the conflict.

    With the war in Ukraine, massively increasing tensions with China, and the Middle East on the edge of an explosion, the world is in a more dangerous situation than at any time since 1945. Trade unionists and the labour movement know only too well that wars are never in the interests of working people and the global trade union and labour movement must do everything in its power to prevent further escalations and to work for peace.

    Conference believes it is essential there is a full, open, and honest debate about the causes of the conflict – including the role of NATO expansion – and fully rejects the Labour Party’s attempts to silence any legitimate discussion of these issues or real analysis of how the world has arrived at the abyss of a nuclear confrontation.

    The conflict is already causing massive problems for the European and UK economy through the energy crisis and huge disruptions to supply chains, this may in turn have a disastrous impact on the jobs, pay and conditions of millions of workers in Europe and the UK – particularly with the UK government already trying to use the conflict as a reason to cut public spending including cutting the wages of workers.

    Conference therefore instructs the Executive Council to:
    • Publically call for the furlough system to be re‐introduced for any workers laid off due to supply chain problems stemming from the conflict
    • Oppose calls for an escalation of the war and call for a peaceful resolution
    • Ensure that NISCs, RISCs and branches are fully informed about the conflict and the industrial issues that have arisen from it that affect members jobs and wellbeing
    • Demand equal treatment for all refugees not preferential treatment for those refugees that suit the government’s political agenda
    • Call on the international trade union movement to be consistent when dealing with conflict and for Unite to raise within the federations the following;
    – Publicly denounce countries that commit the same international violations and human rights abuses as Russia, such as Israel and Turkey
    – Insist that if the Russian unions are to be expelled for not opposing the Ukraine conflict, then so too must Histradut [sic: it’s Histadrut] for its support of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and Hak‐is of Turkey for its support of the invasion and occupation of Syria.
    – Demand that the ETUC do not allow unions, such as Solidarnosc from Poland, to use their high‐profile role in supporting Ukraine to white wash their own extreme right wing policies on LGBT rights, women’s rights and their public support of Marie Le‐Pen in France;
    – Demand that the European and Global Trade Union Federations condemn racism at the Ukraine border and call on their affiliates in the area to demand their governments let all Ukraine refugees across their borders regardless of colour or ethnicity.

    Amendment to motion 46

    London and Eastern 524, Central London Voluntary Sector Branch

    Where it says: Conference therefore instructs the Executive Council to:

    … Oppose calls for an escalation of the war and call for a peaceful resolution;

    Add to this point: To support peace on the basis of Ukraine’s right to self-determination, full withdrawal of invading forces and an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine. In particular Unite should strengthen links with our Ukrainian trade union and socialist sisters and brothers, and support their struggles to help defend their country against imperialist invasion; defend and strengthen workers’, social and democratic rights within it; and win a more just and democratic post-war reconstruction.

    And where it says:

    … Demand equal treatment for all refugees not preferential treatment for those refugees that suit the government’s political agenda

    Add: , free welcome and full access to public services and the right to work for all refugees,

    so it reads: “Demand equal treatment, free welcome and full access to public services and the right to work for all refugees, not preferential treatment for those refugees that suit the government’s political agenda”

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    Subsequently the executive committee put together a large document which, if passed, would erase the original motion. Surprise surprise all criticism of NATO was expunged because:

    'Direct opposition to NATO or other alliances would also risk offering succour to Vladimir Putin and implying that Ukraine is wrong to seek military support from those alliances against Russia's invasion.'

    It calls for 'an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all Russian forces', blames Russia for the Kakhovka dam attack, makes no mention of Zelensky's attacks on unions, and calls for sanctions to be 'maintained and strengthened on the Russian economy, including the seizure of Russian state assets in the UK'. What it did keep from the original motion were the evidence-free claims of Russian support for Trump, Brexit and far-right parties in Europe.

    Images via ukrainesol on twitter: https://nitter.moomoo.me/UkraineSol/status/1678747883250524160#m






    I haven't been able to find out if it passed or not, but it looks like another depressing alignment of union higher-ups with the militarist pro-Ukraine lobby. Difficult to tell if it's reflective of membership opinion. Will post if I see any further documentation or record of debate at the conference.

    cheers,
    I

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