Unite: First policy conference will position union for tough times ahead

Unite: First policy conference will position union for tough times ahead

Unite: First policy conference will position union for tough times ahead

Working for Working People
Monday, May 31 until Thursday, June 3, 2010
Manchester Central Convention Centre
Manchester Central
Petersfield, M2 3GX

Defending jobs and services from £6 billion in cuts threatened by the new ConLib government and “winning back” the Labour party for working people will loom large at the first policy conference of Unite, the UK’s biggest union, which begins in Manchester at the end of this month.

Over 700 delegates will gather to decide the policies that will take Unite and its 1.4 million members through one of the toughest economic climates of recent times. And, in what is the first major union conference since the general election, the conference will provide a first opportunity to assess how the Labour party must reconnect with working people and get on the path to power once again.

Key debates during the week include:

Monday pm Continuing support for the beleaguered manufacturing sector, and the need to put justice at the heart of the economy through fair taxation and a maximum wage.

Tuesday Defending public services against cuts and a wage freeze and delivering stronger employment rights.

Wednesday Peace and disarmament, including the issue of Trident renewal.
Thursday “Winning back the Labour party”.

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, will address the conference on Wednesday.

There is also a packed fringe programme including one to support striking BA cabin crew (Monday, lunchtime) and one on the plight of the Miami 5, five Cuban trade unionists jailed in the US but whose families are denied visiting rights (Wednesday evening).

Media are welcome to attend the conference. If you would like to register to attend, please email martha.campbell@unitetheunion.org stating what days you wish to attend and your full contact details. Please also advise if you will need sound and visual feeds.

The conference will bring together the policies of the two unions which formed Unite, Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union, when they merged in 2007. The full conference programme of debates, fringes and speakers will be published on Unite’s website – www.unitetheunion.org – next week.

ENDS

All media enquiries during the conference should be directed to Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861 or Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315.