Motion 87
Political & Economic Education
“That this Congress recognises the erosion of the Welfare State, that began in 1979 with the Thatcher government and accelerated following the banking crash of 2008/09 and the austerity policies that followed, continues today.
“Years of ‘efficiency savings’ and real cuts in the public sector provision of welfare have torn at the very fabric of society at every level and in all spheres.
“Political parties and the mainstream media present the economic circumstances and policies as being unavoidable, with pre-1979 economic policies that built the Welfare State and increased equality either forgotten about or dismissed as heresy. This is reflected in much of the academic world.
“This has created a generation of politicians, across the left as well as the right, who see no alternative to the economic policies of the current status quo and who are incapable of advocating for alternatives. This is also reflected within the trade union movement with far too few activists and staff having the confidence to challenge the mainstream narrative that there is an economic alternative.
“Congress believes this needs to be addressed and so, calls on the General Council to:
- develop further political education materials and courses that address the need for a greater level of understanding amongst trade union activists of economics and the political consequences of failed economic policies;
- encourage, through training and by example, an increase in communication and social media skills of trade union activists to assist with reaching trade union members with alternative analysis and examples; and
- engage with affiliates on these points to ensure the involvement of a wide range of activists across all affiliates and an adequate level of resourcing.”
Mover: East Kilbride & South Lanarkshire Trades Union Council
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