Resolutions As Passed and Amended at LRC AGM November 2013

Resolutions as passed and amended at LRC AGM November 2013

1. Election of Officers: ● LRC National Committee

This conference adopts the following amendment to the Rules and Constitution of the Labour Representation Committee:

At Clause 21:

i. Insert “Political” before “Secretary” at point (c).

ii. Insert new points (e), (f) and (g) as shown below:

(e) Membership Secretary

(f) Web Manager

(g) Administrator

Background information (not part of the constitutional amendment)

If the constitutional amendment is passed, Clause 21 of the Rules and Constitution of the Labour Representation Committee will be amended to read as shown below. NB: The new text inserted by the proposed amendment is in italic.

“21. The AGM will elect the following officers of the LRC who will report and be accountable to the executive and national committee. Only members of the LRC can be elected as officers.

a) Chair

b) Vice Chairs (2)

c) Political Secretary

d) Treasurer

e) Membership Secretary

f) Web Manager

g) Administrator”

2. Fire Service Cuts: ● Islington North CLP

This LRC AGM supports the FBU’s strike action to protect firefighters’ pensions, and also its solidarity with local communities opposing dangerous fire service cuts.

We are appalled at the potential danger to life being inflicted on people in communities around our country due to fire service cuts – including fire stations, fire appliances and firefighters – by a Tory and Lib Dem Coalition government making cuts to fire service budgets and claiming that the fire service can find even more savings. All over our country fire services are being axed. And these cuts mean a poorer and less safe service for the public. They mean waiting longer for a fire engine if you have a fire or other emergency. We condemn Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, who plans to close 10 fire stations in London and cut 14 fire engines and 550 firefighter jobs, while ignoring the London fire authority and the London Assembly opposition to his plan and the 94% of the Londoners who took part in the consultation on the cuts outlined in the London Safety Plan. We call on the Mayor to reconsider alternatives to keep people safe in some of the most deprived parts of London. And we welcome legal action being taken by a number of London boroughs, including the Labour council in Islington, and the Fire Brigades’ Union, to force the Mayor to properly fund the London Fire Brigade.

We support the campaign against cuts to the Fire Brigade which put lives and livelihoods at risk.

3. Localism: ● Unite NW/0538

This motion notes the actions of the Department of Communities & Local Government, which continues its regressive & undemocratic agenda of the centralization of Local Government via the Localism Act 2011 into the hands of Whitehall & The Westminster Parliament.

This motion calls for the next Labour Government Manifesto to truly progress the cause of Localism, increasing devolution from Westminster to Local Authorities, Transferring more legislative & financial powers to elected local & regional government.

This motion also notes & supports some of the terms of the Local Government Act 2003, which extends Local Authorities financial autonomy, Enabling the ability to borrow against assets and lend from various sources & supports the investigation of the practicalities of LA’s using this legislation as a possible loophole & legal budgetary means of offsetting the cost of a cut in an LA’s DCLG Grant & avoiding severe and devastating budget cuts to jobs & services, by sourcing further funding using the borrowing/lending powers set out in this piece of legislation

Finally, this motion notes the draconian disciplining procedure of a minority of Labour Councillors, when rebelling against The Labour Group.

This motion notes the frequent suspensions and expulsions of councillors who have in many cases as a last resort voted against their Labour Group, and believes each member of a Labour Group views must be respected and when they conflict individuals should NOT be subject to bullying, ostracisation or expulsion within/from The Labour Group when Abstaining/Voting against the Labour Group Budget Proposals.

4. NarendraModi: ● Brent and Harrow LRC

This conference of the Labour Representation Committee condemns attempts to bring the right-wing Indian politician NarendraModi to Britain, and urges the Labour Party and the Labour Friends of India to dissociate themselves from the Labour MP Barry Gardiner (Brent North) who has invited Modi to address parliament.

Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, is held responsible for the organised pogroms in that state in 2002, when as many as 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed. A veteran of the RSS movement inspired by Hitler, the BJP leader is campaigning as a ‘Hindu nationalist’ to become India’s next prime minister. Already his supporters have been linked with communal violence in other parts of India, and attacks on socialists.

Yet because of his encouragement of Western investment in Gujarat, Modi hopes to be rehabilitated by Western governments. He recently had meetings with the British High Commissioner in Ahmedabad, promising advantages for British companies. Modi’s past visits to Britain were used to raise funds here and his prestige back home. A visit now would fit his election campaign.

It is regrettable, to say the least, that his invitation came from a Labour MP, and it can only discredit the Labour Party. NarendraModi is opposed by socialists in India, notably trade unionists in the state of Gujarat. His visit to this country is opposed by British Asians of all backgrounds, and by several Labour MPs. The LRC must add its voice to the opposition.

6. Defend the Link! : ● Greater London LRC

This AGM recognises that the Labour Party leadership’s attack on the LP-TU link is the latest attempt to sever the connection between the Labour Party and the organised working class. Therefore the LRC needs to continue to build a strong campaign, together with others, the basis of which is:

* Defend the collective affiliation by trades unions to the Party;

* Collective decision-making by trades unions within the Party;

* Argue for the retention of at least the current voting strength by trades unions in Labour Party structures.

Our objective is to build a campaign together with other forces in the Party and unions which share these aims.

The LRC encourages its supporters around the country to build this campaign, aiming to win the support of Labour Party and Trade Union bodies at all levels for the aims above, and with the aim of committing them to oppose all change that weakens collective affiliation at the Special Spring conference.

Labour needs to work with the unions to recruit members to the Labour Party and participate in the Party.

While campaigning together with all those wishing to defend the link, the LRC will also raise issues around the strengthening and democratisation of the link, both within the unions and between the unions and Party, such as the election and accountability of union representatives at all levels of the Party, the participation of levy payers in selections, while being wary of suggestions that the Party can dictate changes to union rule books.

7. Fighting Austerity: ● Brent Trades Council

"The fight against austerity must continue to be central to the activity of the LRC over the next year. The LRC will support all action by trades unions, community groups etc against attacks on services, jobs and living standards.

The LRC will support all serious initiatives called by national anti-austerity organisations, while continuing to argue for one national anti-austerity campaign, with democratic structures based on trades unions, local anti-cuts campaigns and community organisations.

The LRC will also campaign to not only commit the Labour Party and a future Labour government to reversing attacks introduced by the coalition, but crucially also for the Labour Party to support action against these measures now.

While supporting Labour Councils which introduce such measures as the Living wage, free school meals and `blacklisting the blacklisters’ and any refusal to evict those hit by measures such as the bedroom tax and the benefit cap, we also campaign against cuts in jobs and services and the use of zero hours contracts by any and all Councils. The LRC fully supports `Councillors against the Cuts', and will do what it can to build support among Councillors, unions and the Labour Party at all levels. We urge all Labour Councils to build active opposition to government cuts in funding and to refuse to implement them."

8. Railways and Royal Mail: ● RMT East Midlands branch

We note the unanimous votes of Labour Party conference that a future Labour government should renationalise the railway industry and Royal Mail (should the Tories succeed in privatising it). Such policies would put an end to the years of disasters, high fares and attacks on workers in the profit-driven private railway, and will be very popular with working-class voters.

We note, however, that Labour’s leadership intends to ignore these conference votes and not include these commitments in the Party’s 2015 General Election manifesto.

LRC resolves to launch an active campaign for Labour to include these commitments in its manifesto, working jointly with the CWU, RMT, ASLEF, TSSA and Unite. This campaign should seek the support of CLPs, branches, PPCs and trade union bodies, and should include public protests and events.

9. Energy Prices: ● CWU (Greater London Combined)

This Conference notes the proposals to bring in a cap on energy prices by the Labour Party leadership. We believe this is a step in the right direction that will reign in some of the excesses of the energy companies and deliver price reductions for consumers. However much more change would be needed to ensure utility provision in energy (and also in water, in gas and in postal and telecoms services) which is in the interests of ordinary consumers and workers in these industries.

The regulation of the utilities brought in by Tories, and continued under the previous Labour Governments, with its ideological framework of competition based on a liberalised market model can never deliver a consistent level of investment for future development of services on egalitarian lines, a trained and decently paid workforce delivering quality services, comprehensive universal access, or cheaper prices for consumers rather than for big business. The current model of regulation in these industries needs to be overturned in order to ensure this.

Therefore the LRC agrees to campaign for:

•Public control of the regulation of the utilities in the interests of all rather than just increased price competition between private firms.

•Democratic decision making in the planning and development of the services provided by utilities ensuring universal access for all.

•Public ownership of the energy, water, gas, telecoms and postal industries in the UK for the common good.

We demand a future Labour Government renationalises these industries in order to achieve these aims.

10. Energy Prices: ● Islington LRC

We welcome the pledge of Ed Miliband, the Labour Party leader, to freeze energy prices for 18 months if Labour gains power in 2015.

But this can only be the start of controlling the prices of our basic services. The logic is to ensure price control through public ownership and democratic control that involves consumers and workers.

We therefore call on a future Labour government to bring the following industries, which are all natural monopolies, into public ownership and democratic control: electricity, gas, water, postal, telecommunications and railways.

11. Fracking & the UK Energy Industry: ● Sussex LRC

The LRC opposes:

a) diversion of resources away from the development of renewables

b) any expansion of the nuclear power industry

c) use and contamination of clean water in fracking

d) likely disastrous environmental consequences of fracking, including methane releases

e) disruption to wildlife and industrialisation of our countryside.

The LRC advocates the precautionary principle “do no harm” and agrees that unconventional energy sources like shale gas should only be permitted as a last resort, after developing and exploiting all renewables, including their efficient storage.

The LRC will campaign actively to support:

a) A public enquiry into a UK-wide ban on fracking.

b) Full legislative force for Labour’s March 2012 pre-conditions to the exploration and extraction of shale gas, prior to any public enquiry.

c) Regular high profile visits from leading labour movement figures, including the Labour leadership, to support anti-fracking protests.

d) Repeal of all UK tax breaks applied to fracking.

e) Introduction of a comprehensive, punitive tax regime for fracking, as for other polluting industries which impact UK carbon reduction targets, including a higher rate for fracking under the Climate Change Levy and the end of the exclusion of shale from the Aggregates Levy.

f) Introduction of UK tax breaks to develop renewable energy sources and required storage facilities.

g) Re-affirmation of the commitment to meeting UK carbon reduction targets.

h) Re-nationalisation of the UK’s energy industry – including distribution, supply, power generation and required infrastructure networks – facilitating affordable energy supplies for all.

12. Prisoners of War: ● Irish Republican Prisoners Support Group

This AGM reaffirms its stance on Irish and international anti-imperialist political prisoners and continues to oppose all forms of Islamophobia which is used to erode the civil liberties of all opponents of capitalism and prepares its use against all working class organisation as the crisis deepens.

We pledge to fight the continued use of forcible strip searching in the north of Ireland both in Maghaberry and in Hydebank. We are particularly concerned with its return for female prisoners, which amount to brutal sexual assaults. On 14 August Sharon Rafferty was forcibly strip-searched in Hydebank gaol prior to a court appearance and again on return. This recalls the brutal victimisation of the pregnant RóisínMcAliskey, the daughter of former Mid Ulster MP Bernadette McAliskey, strip searched more than 70 times before she gave birth. Amnesty International described her treatment as “cruel, inhuman and degrading”. There is absolutely no need for such barbarism as is practised in these prisons by members of the POA. The BOSS chair is available for all body scans and is acceptable to the prisons authorities in Texas, the most draconian of all prison regimes in the US.

We demand:

1. Immediate implementation of the Maghaberry Agreement of August 2010 conceding freedom of movement and an end to all strip searching.

2. Repatriation of Michael Campbell from Lithuania.

3. Release of Martin Corey and all held using the excuse of revoking the GFA license – this amounts to political censorship and a reintroduction of internment in another name.

13. Internationalist campaign in the European elections: ● Alliance for Workers’ Liberty

Notes

1. Standing LRC policy on Europe, passed in 2011, which says "In or out, the fight goes on" and "For a Workers' Europe".

2. With alarm, the dramatic rise of UKIP and the growth in British nationalist sentiment, organised and unorganised.

3. That there is very likely to be a would-be left-wing "No2EU" slate in the 2014 European elections.

Believes

Should there be a referendum on withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in the future, it is likely the Conservatives and the right wing will focus on attacking positive social reform and workers’ rights. It will be difficult for an argument against a fortress and capitalist EU to get heard. LRC should further discuss its position should a referendum be called at a future date.

Further believes

1. That the road to a Socialist United Europe is responding to European capitalist unification by organising for cross-European working-class and socialist struggle. We advocate the following program for this struggle:

- Oppose all cuts; level up wages, services, pensions and workers'

rights to the best across Europe; for cross-European workers'

organisation and struggle;

- Tax the rich and expropriate the banks, Europe-wide;

- Scrap the EU's bureaucratic structures; for a European constituent assembly;

- Against a European defence force; for a Europe without standing armies or nuclear weapons;

- For a European workers' government.

Resolves

1. To run a campaign advocating a Labour vote in the 2014 European elections, on the basis of the policies set out above and with slogans along the lines of "For international working-class solidarity - For a Workers' United Europe ".
2. In the event of an In/Out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, to hold an extensive debate across the whole of the LRC movement on what position to take.

14. Labour Party Defence Policy: ● Labour CND

LRC will continue to campaign in the Labour Party:

1. to scrap trident and not replace it and make the achievement of a global treaty abolishing nuclear weapons a major objective of Labour's foreign policy.

2. to demand the withdrawal of any remaining British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

3. to demand that Britain shall no longer back any one side in Syria's civil war and advocate a peace negotiation from which no participant in the war is excluded.

4. to oppose liberal interventionism, work for a non-aligned foreign policy based on respect for human rights and the objectives of the UN Charter.

Emergency Resolution Grangemouth/Royal Mail

Brent & Harrow LRC

This Conference notes that the whole trade union movement has suffered two colossal defeats with the acceptance of the Grangemouth management imposed deal and the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Statement to LRC AGM from the LRC International Commission For internationalism, against military intervention

1. In a year of continued attacks on global living standards, the LRC continues to stand in international solidarity with working people worldwide fighting austerity and exploitation. In particular we will work for closer links between European labour movements and European socialist organisations

2. This AGM welcomes the refusal of the UK Parliament to support military intervention in Syria and looks forward to further breaks in the Labour-Tory bipartisan consensus on foreign policy. We recognise that the lack of support for military action among some Labour backbenchers - and frontbenchers - in particular is the result of consistent activity over the last decade by anti-war activists and of the sufferings of the Iraqi and Afghan people who have borne the brunt of the catastrophic invasions of their countries.