Ken Livingstone says, I'm not opposed to proportional representation in principle...........', but then distorted version of why come Com- state completely munist Party is not only 'not opposed to proportional representation, but is actively and deeply committed to We in fact specifically argue in our programme the British Road to Socialism* inal proportional resentation 'would not only Britain's electoral system much more democratic, but it would create more favourable conditions for uniting the left achieving Labour/Communist unity.
It therefore, yet a further distortion to suggest that the Communist Party would 'line up with the social democrats against the left wing of the Labour Party' as the article says.
As the Communist Party argues in its programme, the British Road to Socialism, 'It is clear, however, that if these movements and their struggles proceed in isolation from each other, they can do no more than challenge the position of the ruling class on a series of different issues, overal dominaton. they isolated from the movement, not VIlL will themselves suffer from the lack of its support, but the working class will be unable to fulfil its role of the leading force in society?
Mass The Communist Party takes the view that the conscious construction of alliances between the labour movedemocratic movements is also necessary because, in the process of such alliances being forged, the labour movement will become increasingly aware that the struggle against class oppression extends far beyond the workplace and embraces strata beyond the working class b — a concept dimly hinted at, albeit in rather limited fashion, in the article's last paragraph.
Through the dialectical process which will ensue in the course of this development, the labour movement will alive al a call sciousness of its role as the leading force in society, and indeed be better able to fulfil that role.
This is the basis of our principled
FOLLOWING the conference Broad Left Organising Committee on 19 February this year, the Organising Committee met on 26 March. paign on union democracy and the block vote. discussion at the forthcoming union conferences. The Committee decided to call a further conference in November 1983.
THE RANK-AND-FILE of the trade union movement will be looking keenly toward the defeat of the Tories at the general election. It is us who have suffered directly the blows directed by this reactionary plementing socialist policies based on Labour Party unemployment and take the economy forward.
the first step to fundamentally changing society in a socialist direction. But will the agreed policies by imdisarmament, withdrawal from the EEC, free colthe rank and file of the trade unions must be fully vigilant, exerting constant pressure on the trade union leaders so that they in turn apply the necessary influence to ensure policies which will defend and advance the interests of working people are carried Trade union Greater efforts must be made to further democratise the unions by union members alone and Socialist Action 15 April 1983 organised by the This meeting decided to launch a vigorous camThe meeting issued the following statement for Only a Labour government committed to imThe party's policy if fully implemented could be have been blurred and To prevent further erosion of conference policy The question arises how can the rank and file exThey are our organisations. we have the right to determine the methods by which accountability VOCLICOD. and democracy can be best achieved. However, these methods have give membership control. The block vote The block vote provides a target for hostile criticism of the trade union moveMuch this criticism aimed fragmenting our collective decision making but ci cales doubt unionists.
We believe that the organised working maintain and develop its this should be reflected on the Dasis each strength. As in all other there must be uniformity and unity in action casting the votes which reflect each union's Savour either ab listing strength. We are or splitting the block vote (on proportional lines) as some have suggested.
The block vote, rank and file However, the casting of the vote tol policies and TUC and LP executives is often done with little in. volvement of the mass of OUL often these vital decisions movement. Quite are taken by a few ofmcials. subsequently evel. these decisions and and wny uney were made are rarely reported back to the respective unions. This should and must be changed.
The block vote should be the reason and basis for involving members the highest aspect of industrial, politica and leadership questions via the organisa(Ors unions themselves.
following to TUC Conhalt lay size up of delegations.
should rights, eg vole the on the There policy). their 3. Al and elecdebated within each delegation.
ion meetings at the TU( CUI" ferences themselves are in adequate. Extra meetings during the year to discuss the union's propositions and nominations should also be held and decisions collectively taken by all the delegation unless the union's has already passed own judgement.
5. Decisions taken should fully reflect the conference decisions.
6. Minutes should be taken at delegation meetings and approved by them. Where delegate wishes, the voting record on propositions and elections should also minuted. The minutes to be circulated in union journals or a special report. 7. Minority reports should be allowed to be circulated alongside majority reports. Both minority and majority should be allow. ed to justify their points of view. There should be extensive but interesting and debate provoking reports.
At a time of intense crisis more time to discuss TUC and Labour Party reports at ferences become vital. The pitiful times allowed rank file Ove Seperate TUC and Labour delegate written conferences for discussion ratification.
Nominations to the and Labour Party executives should be apby conferences where possible. Conterence should be allowed to express disap proval of other nominations. In particular now that most nominations to the TUC General Council are direct from individual unions and that this body represents the léadership of the trade union movement, elections for the nomination in each union should take place. After all, the who is elected is now only responsible directly to the nominating union.
10. Minutes with voting recorded patterns of the TUC Council and Labour Party NEC on important issues should be cirulated to each union.
11. The terms of delegations should last until fresh elections are held.
12. The 'leader' of each delegation should elected by the delegation.
13. At regional level (for regional conferences)
deinations selected by pointed selected undemocratic practices.
geneve that they should be elected and the democratic procedures refered to above be applied.
Some or all of the above ideas feature in unions. they do not. Individual rules have be changed if they are to be accomodated other unions the rules may be allow undemocratic practices to flourish. In such cases codes of conduct could be adopted phe wilingness rule changes. The of leaders to so self-reform their sincerity and inten tion to maximise rank and file involvement.
For further Philormatolt contact: Holl Secretary BLOC, Blvd, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside.