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From The Socialist newspaper, 23 February 2022
Trade union support for standing anti-cuts election candidates
Aslef
On the back of so much Tory sleaze and betrayals by Labour, many working-class people can't be blamed for having no faith in any of the establishment parties.
That's why I put forward a motion in my union branch in Birmingham, to go to our annual Aslef rail workers' union delegate conference, that we should support and encourage our rank-and-file members to stand as anti-cuts candidates in the upcoming May local council elections.
The motion was passed undisputed. It calls on our members to stand for any party that truly represents trade unionist, socialist and anti-austerity values.
And with a motion on the conference's unofficial agenda to disaffiliate from the Labour Party, the idea of standing anti-cuts candidates, including against local Labour councillors could soon be building up more support in the union.
Kris O'Sullivan, Aslef member
RMT
RMT tube strike, December 2021 (Click to enlarge)
At a Piccadilly and District West RMT branch meeting, Dave Nellist, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate in the Erdington by-election, spoke on the need for a political alternative.
His speech was well received and the branch donated £200 to his election campaign.
A number of RMT members have committed to stand as TUSC candidates in the upcoming local elections. For a long period, the RMT was alone as a trade union in supporting other candidates to the left of Labour. But the decision by the 18,000-strong Bakers' Union to join the campaign for political representation has not gone unnoticed by a large section of the RMT, and has given a further impetus in the campaign for a new mass party of the working class.
Gary Harbord, RMT member
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In The Socialist 23 February 2022:
News
Unite and fight for a decent pay rise
Johnson scraps Covid safety measures
Tories instruct teachers to wipe Britain's real history
International news
Ukraine: Workers' unity against capitalist warmongers and imperialist meddlers
Canada: Prime Minister Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act to end 'Freedom Convoy'
One year after the military coup in Myanmar
NHS
Privatisation and crisis in the NHS
Erdington by-election
The Erdington byelection and the fight for a new mass workers' party
Vote Nellist for a workers' MP in Birmingham Erdington
Workplace news
Tube workers strike in defence of pay, pensions and conditions
University workers continue strike against bosses' attacks
Coventry bin strikers lobby strike-breaking Labour council
Scunny scaffs action forces bosses to the table
Usdaw: 'Reinstate Max' week of action
Trade union support for standing anti-cuts election candidates
Barts NHS workers to walk out again on 28 February
Just Eat couriers continue action to fight pay cut
Rail workers strike in Sheffield
Students
Workers and students unite and fight
Fighting fees and marketisation after 2 March student walkout
Campaigns news
Restore Cardiff's slashed services
Brighton Green and Labour cuts - workers and communities fight back
Surrey: Unions and campaigns say stand as an anti-cuts candidate
Newham City Farm - closed with no consultation
London Socialist Party women's meeting
1 March: Socialist Party new website launch
Review
TV review: This is Going to Hurt
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2021