SPEECH BY BILL SPEIRS TO SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE, 27 FEBRUARY 2004
SISTERS AND BROTHERS, COMRADES AND FRIENDS, AND THE REST OF YOU, I AM PLEASED TO BRING THE SORORAL AND FRATERNAL GREETINGS OF THE STUC TO THIS CONFERENCE OF THE SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY.
LET'S GET THE DIFFICULT STUFF OUT OF THE WAY.
I AM ACUTELY CONSCIOUS THAT MANY OF YOU WERE UNHAPPY THAT I SPOKE TO THE SNP CONFERENCE LAST YEAR. LET ME SAY THAT SOME OF MY WORDS IN THAT SPEECH COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER CONSTRUCTED IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WOULD BE PICKED UP BY THE MEDIA.
IN PARTICULAR, I DID NOT CALL ON UNION MEMBERS TO DISAFFILIATE FROM THE LABOUR PARTY. WHAT I SAID WAS THAT I WAS FED UP WITH SNP MEMBERS COMPLAINING TO ME ABOUT UNIONS SUPPORTING THE LABOUR PARTY, AND I POINTED OUT THAT IF UNION MEMBERS WERE UNHAPPY WITH THE LABOUR LINK THEY COULD GO TO THEIR BRANCH AND PUT DOWN A MOTION OPPOSING IT, BECAUSE WE ARE A DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT.
I SAID THAT THEY COULD DO IT, NOT THAT THEY SHOULD DO IT
AND LETS BE CLEAR, TALKING TO PEOPLE IS VERY DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME AS AGREEING WITH THEM
AT THE SNP CONFERENCE I SPELT OUT TO THEM THE STUC'S OPPOSITION TO SCOTTISH SEPARATION FROM THE REST OF THE UK;
AND AT THIS CONFERENCE, I WILL SPELL OUT TO YOU WHY THE STUC BELIEVES THAT THE DEVOLUTION SETTLEMENT IS MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE TO THE LIVES OF WORKING PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND. IN NO SMALL MEASURE, THAT'S TO DO WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STUC AND THE LABOUR LED EXECUTIVE.
BUT OF COURSE I WONT APOLOGISE FOR ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO THE SNP. THE STUC IS THE LARGEST VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION IN SCOTLAND, SPEAKING FOR MORE THAN 600,000 WORKERS. THE SNP IS THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION IN THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND IT WOULD BE A DERELICTION OF OUR DUTY IF WE DID NOT SPEAK TO THEM, AND THE OTHER PARTIES REPRESENTED IN THE PARLIAMENT IN PUTTING FORWARD THE DEMOCRATICALLY AGREED POLICIES OF THE STUC.
IT WOULD ALSO BE A DERELICTION OF MY DUTY AS STUC GENERAL SECRETARY AND A MEMBER OF THE LABOUR PARTY IF I DID NOT TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS LABOUR ACTIVISTS TO CONTINUE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR OWN UNIONS.
WHILE WE'RE ON THE ISSUE OF ADDRESSES TO CONFERENCES, THOUGH, CAN I EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT TONY BLAIR HAS AGAIN, FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW, TURNED DOWN OUR INVITATION TO ADDRESS THE STUC CONGRESS.
BUT ENOUGH FROM MR GRUMPY, LET ME TRANSFORM MYSELF INTO MR HAPPY. NEXT MONTH THE STUC WILL BE MEETING THE FIRST MINISTER, IN THE LATEST OF OUR REGULAR MEETINGS AGREED AS PART OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT JACK SIGNED ALONG WITH OUR THEN PRESIDENT DAVID BLEIMAN IN 2002.
AT THAT MEETING WE WILL BE DISCUSSING A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL ISSUES THAT DON'T GRAB HEADLINES, BUT WHICH HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF WORKING PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND. FOR EXAMPLE, WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE ROLE THAT THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE AND THE TRADE UNIONS CAN PLAY, IN PARTNERSHIP, IN DELIVERING IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SCOTLAND.
HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION IS, OF COURSE, A RESERVED MATTER: BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOOD PRACTICE ISN'T, AND WE HAVE BEEN HAVING REALLY PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ON AREAS WHERE THEY, AND THE PARLIAMENT, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
OR EXAMPLE, IT IS WORRYING THAT ALTHOUGH SCOTLAND'S HEALTH AND SAFETY RECORD IS WORSE THAN THAT OF THE UK AS A WHOLE, THERE ARE FEWER PROSECUTIONS FOR BREACH OF LEGISLATION IN SCOTLAND, AND WHERE PROSECUTIONS DO TAKE PLACE, THE PENALTIES IMPOSED BY OUR COURTS ARE MUCH LIGHTER.
THESE ISSUES, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY, SUCH AS THE INTRODUCTION OF A SPECIFIC OFFENCE OF CORPORATE CULPABLE HOMICIDE, ARE BEING TAKEN FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY BY THE EXECUTIVE, WITHIN THE OPERATION OF OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER AREAS WHERE WE ARE WORKING WELL TOGETHER FOR EXAMPLE, THE WORK BEING DONE THROUGH THE SCOTTISH UNION LEARNING FUND AND OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING.
OR THE "CLOSE THE GAP" CAMPAIGN, WORKING TO END THE PAY GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.
OR THE "ONE WORKPLACE" CAMPAIGN, PROMOTING EQUALITY OF ALL KINDS, NOT LEAST RACE EQUALITY, IN EVERY WORKPLACE IN SCOTLAND.
AND WHILE WE ARE ON THE ISSUES OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND WORKPLACE EQUALITY, CAN I SUGGEST THAT ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE THINGS THAT THE WESTMINSTER GOVERNMENT COULD DO WOULD BE TO SUPPORT JIM SHERIDAN'S EXCELLENT INITIATIVE IN BRINGING FORWARD A BILL TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED IN THE HORRENDOUS DEATHS OF THE CHINESE COCKLE PICKERS IN MORECOMBE BAY.
BUT THEY COULD GO FURTHER. WHY DO WE GET SO WORKED UP ABOUT THE POOR FOLK WHO ARE WORKING ILLEGALLY FOR SLAVE'S WAGES IN THE SHADOW ECONOMY, RATHER THAN FOCUSSING ON THE SCUM WHO EXPLOIT THEM? ISN'T IT TIME THAT DAVID BLUNKETT-STYLE ROBUSTNESS WAS BROUGHT TO BEAR ON BOSSES WHO EMPLOY PEOPLE ON LESS THAN £1 AN HOUR, RATHER THAN ON THE POOR SOULS WHO ARE BEING RIPPED OFF.
ISN'T IT TIME WE HAD LEGISLATION AND A SENTENCING POLICY THAT ENSURES THAT BOSSES OF THAT KIND DON'T GET OFF WITH FEEBLE FINES, PAID FOR OUT OF THE WAGES THAT THE WORKERS NEVER GOT?
ISN'T IT TIME THAT ANY BOSS CONVICTED OF EMPLOYING PEOPLE ILLEGALLY, FOR LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE AND PAYING NO NATIONAL INSURANCE ISN'T IT TIME THAT SUCH SCUM GOT WHAT THEY DESERVE A MINIMUM OF A YEAR INSIDE, AND NO PROVISION FOR PAROLE?
BUT COMING BACK TO THE WAYS IN WHICH THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE AND THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT ARE UTILISING OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN A MATURE, CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER, THERE COULD BE PROBABLY NO BETTER EXAMPLE THAN THE STEPS BEING TAKEN TO PROVIDE ENHANCED PROTECTION FOR EMERGENCY WORKERS.
FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES, THE STUC AND INDIVIDUAL UNIONS HAVE BEEN FULLY INVOLVED IN THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION, AND THE CONCRETE STEPS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT IT EFFECTIVELY. THIS IS WORK IN PROGRESS AND WE HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR A POSITIVE OUTCOME BOTH IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND THE PACKAGE OF WIDER MEASURES TO PROTECT ALL WORKERS WHO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
AND ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAVE CO-OPTED A TRADE UNION ACTIVIST TO WORK ON A SECONDED BASIS WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INITIATIVE.
AND WHO DID THEY CO-OPT?
LINDA SHANAHAN OF THE FIRE BRIGADES UNION.
COMING AFTER WHAT WE ALL KNOW WAS A VERY DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES BITTER DISPUTE, WHICH STRETCHED UNION- LABOUR RELATIONS A VERY LONG WAY, THAT APPOINTMENT
DEMONSTRATED A DEGREE OF SENSE AND MATURITY OF WHICH WE CAN ALL BE PROUD.
SO WHATEVER DIFFERENCES WE MAY HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE OVER PFI DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SERVICES, WHICH THE STUC OPPOSES NOT FOR CRUDE IDEOLOGICAL REASONS, BUT BECAUSE IT IS HUGELY EXPENSIVE, INEFFICIENT AND DAMAGING TO THE MORALE AND MOTIVATION OF VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS WHATEVER DIFFERENCES WE MAY HAVE, THERE IS FAR MORE THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US.
AND THAT IS OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE IN THE MODERN CAPITALIST GLOBAL ECONOMY, WHERE BOSSES CAN SHUT DOWN WORKPLACES AND SHUT DOWN LIVES WITH ONE MEMO, DESTROYING TRUST AND THE MUCH PROMOTED CONCEPT OF PARTNERSHIP.
ASK THE WORKERS OF SCOTTISH AND NEWCASTLE, OR BRITISH AIRWAYS.
BUT WE NEED TO UNITE NOT JUST IN SCOTLAND, OR BRITAIN, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
"AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL"
"WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE"
THESE ARE SLOGANS THAT ARE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS THEY HAVE EVER BEEN.
(EXCERPTS FROM ANGELA TUCKET BOOK TO BE INSERTED HERE)
FOR THE STUC, INTERNATIONAL ISSUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CENTRAL TO OUR CONCERNS, AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY DURING MY POLITICAL LIFETIME MAY THAT ALWAYS REMAIN THE CASE, BECAUSE AN INJURY TO ONE IS INDEED AN INJURY TO ALL. EVERY TIME A PALESTINIAN WORKER CANNOT GET TO THEIR JOB BECAUSE OF ISRAEL'S APARTHEID WALL, WORKERS EVERYWHERE SUFFER, AS HOPE FADES AND EXTREMISM AND EXPLOITATION GATHER STRENGTH.
EARLIER THIS MONTH I TOOK PART IN A DELEGATION TO COLOMBIA TO MEET AND SHOW SOLIDARITY TO TRADE UNIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.
TALKING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE OIL WORKERS UNION, UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR A YEAR ACCUSED OF "REBELLION", SUBJECT OF SEVEN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS, AND SUFFERING FROM CANCER.
MEETING THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, WHO BOTH ADMITTED THAT HE WAS INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME, FORGETTING THAT OUR MEETING WAS BEING TAPED.
VISITING A WOMEN'S JAIL AND TALKING TO TRADE UNION ACTISTS WHO ARE AMONG THE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE BEEN HELD FOR YEARS WITHOUT CHARGE. ONE WOMAN THAT ISPOKE TO HAD BEEN IN THE PRISON FOR FIVE YEARS CHARGED WITH NOTHING, LET ALONE CONVICTED
AND SPEAKING TO THE YOUNG MOTHER OF TWO WHOSE HUSBAND WAS KIDNAPPED BY RIGHT-WING, GOVERNMENT- LINKED PARAMILITARIES LAST YEAR.
A FEW DAYS AFTER HE DISAPPEARED SHE GOT A TELEPHONE CALL FROM HIM. HE TOLD HER THAT HE LOVED HER, AND THEIR CHILDREN. THEN THE PHONE WAS TAKEN FROM HIM, BUT THE LINE WAS LEFT OPEN.
IT WAS LEFT OPEN SO THAT SHE COULD HEAR, AS HIS CAPTORS CUT OFF HIS ARMS AND LEGS. THEY DUMPED HIS TORSO ON HER DOORSTEP THE NEXT MORNING.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS SUPPLYING MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE COLOMBIAN REGIME. THEY SHOULD STOP.
BUT NOT ALL IS DOOM AND GLOOM. WORKING TOGETHER, IN SOLIDARITY, WORKING MEN AND WOMEN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IN COLOMBIA LAST OCTOBER THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE CUT, THE COLOMBIAN TUC, WON THE ELECTION FOR MAYOR OF BOGOTA, THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL POST IN THE COUNTRY.
AND OF COURSE, THIS YEAR IS THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA A REMINDER THAT STRUGGLING IN UNITY FOR WHAT IS RIGHT REALLY CAN DELIVER A RESULT.
SO IN THE DAYS WHEN WE ARE STRUGGLING AGAINST WORKPLACE REDUNDANCIES, OR FOR UNION RECOGNITION, OR TRYING TO RESOLVE OUR INTERNAL POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, LET'S REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES AND THE VICTORIES OF GOVAN MBEKI AND JOE SLOVO, OLIVER TAMBO AND RONNIE KASRILS, DENIS GOLDBERG AND SO MANY, MANY UNKNOWN MEN AND WOMEN, BLACK AND WHITE, JEWISH AND MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN AND ATHEIST.
THEIR VICTORY WAS ALSO OURS, FOR THEY PROVED THAT UNITY REALLY IS STRENGTH.
SOLIDARITY!
Ends