The Liberal Trade Unionists Group is back

After much discussion, it has been decided to re-establish the Liberal Trade Unionists Group. Our principles and what we stand for remain the same, and that is to build on the radical liberal foundations laid by the founders of the trade union movement.

Britain today is in turmoil as we live in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to this we have the full effects of a Tory engineered Brexit to come and we cannot allow the financial costs of either to be placed on the shoulders of those who simply do not have the means to pay.  The role of trade unions are essential in the struggles ahead, but the trade union movement must be fully representative of its members and not be a ladder to climb for career trade unionists. This is why items 6, 7 and 8 in What We stand for are so important.

6) To tackle Trade Union 'careerism' by holding regular democratic elections and the right to recall of all Trade Union reps and officials, ensuring they represent the workers first.

7) To tackle the massive salaries of Trade Union officials, calling for them to be in greater relation to those workers they represent.

8) To support a stronger voice for Trades Councils and rank and file union members within the Trade Union movement.

As Liberal Trade Unionists we reject a 'top down' approach, and listen to the voice of the individual. We take this approach into the Trade Union movement, believing the voice of the individual is important within the collective powers of a union. This means the voice of the ordinary rank and file union member is just as important as officialdom higher up the ladder. We feel this also needs reflecting in the salaries of leading union officials which are often beyond the dreams of large numbers of workers they represent, and sometimes acts as the major incentive to seek advancement.  Being a Liberal Trade Unionist also means being ‘green’ and protective of our natural environment. We deplore the actions of some unions, although being protective of their members jobs, failing to grasp the fact the new green industries and a green industrial revolution is the future. We believe in a programme of transition, one which would not lead to major job losses and destruction of communities as seen with the loss of our mining and steel industries amongst others. This policy would protect jobs and lead to long term employment opportunities with decent wages.

As we are a group which builds upon the founding principles radical liberals played in establishing the unions, we cannot ignore many unions links and affiliation to the Labour Party. It is a fact the trade unions, or those of whom were attracted to socialism, founded the Labour Party. Although the Liberal Trade Unionists Group is supportive of the ongoing Liberal Party (as we see them maintaining a radical liberal thread), we do not believe the trade union movement should belong to one party, but to the members instead, maintaining the liberal tradition of freedom of choice. It can also be said the Labour government’s under Blair and Brown did little to remove the draconian anti-trade union legislation introduced under the Tories. This, and the divisive reign of Jeremy Corbyn, actually distanced many trade unions members from the Labour Party, especially in Britain’s former manufacturing heartlands, as well as discouraging others to join a trade union.. Labour has, even to a degree during the Corbyn era, played a ‘run with the fox – play with the hounds approach’, mixing social democracy and socialism whilst playing with the fire of neoliberal economics. And still the unions supported it. We question whether this carte-blanche financial support really works in members interests.

The Liberal Trade Unionists Group also deplores the fact that for many workers even finding a couple of quid a week can be difficult due to financial circumstances. This can deter substantial numbers of low paid workers from joining a trade union, leaving them unrepresented and even exploited by unscrupulous employers. We want to make trade union membership really affordable for all workers, which is why Number 8 in What we Stand For reads “To make trade union membership affordable for all”.

Being a Liberal Trade Unionist is different, and it can combine liberalism and socialism as we have described elsewhere on the Liberal Trade Unionists site. Large numbers of trade unionists are probably more radical liberal in thought than hard line socialist. The key factor is the major difference between radical liberalism and socialism in thought. If you look at socialism it has a very top down approach, often viewing people en-masse, whilst liberal thinkers look more to the root of the problem and how they affect the individual. We believe it is difficult for some high earning bureaucrats within the trade union movement to sometimes understand the needs of the individual, and this continues.

Being a Liberal Trade Unionist does not necessarily mean you have to be a member of The Liberal Party, though we believe building the membership of the party is important in creating a radical liberal society built on the Preamble of the party – “The Liberal Party exists to build a Liberal Society in which every citizen shall possess liberty, property and security, and none shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. Its chief care is for the rights and opportunities of the individual and in all spheres it sets freedom first”. What being part of the Liberal Trade Unionists Group does mean is supporting our aims, which ultimately would lead to increased trade union membership, greater democracy and fairness, and better representation for workers.