Who we are?
It is often forgotten in the midst of history, that the forefathers of today's Trade Unions were actually Liberals. In the days before the rise of socialism it was radical liberals who fought for the rights of workers and the right to organise. Only when socialism came to the forefront did its influence over the unions wane, with many swapping the orange of liberty and liberalism for the red flag of socialism.
Today it can be argued that the Labour Party no longer speaks for the ordinary man and woman in the street. And whilst many unions still cling to its shirttails, the vast majority of Trade Unionists feel let down by Labour.
To the left of Labour are a host Trotskyite and Marxist-Leninist groupings trying to gain influence in the unions. However, though often well meaning, their revolutionary class approach with each vying to be the vanguard party alienates the vast majority of the public as well as large swathes of Trade Unionists.
The Liberal Trade Unionists Group are a group of Liberal and Liberal socialist minded people that are members or past members of a Trade Union. We wish to promote a Liberal vision, particularly the original radical vision, within Trade Unions and Trade Councils and encourage those who join us to become active within their union branch or local Trades Council.
The Liberal Trade Unionists Group will campaign for the rights of workers via a radical Liberal vision, democratic Trade Unions and for the salaries of the hierarchy of the Trade Union movement to be more in line with the workers they represent ... and not in some cases six figure salaries!
Though we are supportive of the Liberal Party, as it maintains a strand of radical and social liberalism, we are not a branch or section of the party, and some of our registered supporters may not even be members of the Party. We do not believe Trade Unions should exclusively belong to any single political party, but to the members themselves.
We are internationalists and believe in promoting a fairer society and workers rights across the globe. We are also for a greener society, and wish to promote environmentalism and investment in eco-employment as part of a long term sustainable vision.
The Liberal Trade Unionists Group are democratically run, with every registered supporter having the right to vote and raise issues and motions for our annual assembly. We also encourage the establishment of local Liberal Trade Unionist Groups.
As previously mentioned, today with vast numbers of Trade Unionists no longer considering themselves socialists, some are now rediscovering liberalism. In this we envisage over a period of time the return of large sections of the Trade Union movement to radical liberalism. What you may find by reading the values of radical liberalism or liberal socialism is that without knowing it you may have always been a liberal.
For more information, or to register as a supporter, please get in touch at liberaltradeunionists@gmail.com
