Starting A New Union From Scratch

[delighted]

Just how many members do you think are going to join a union run by militants?

Every cwu member with a brain .because we are getting shafted by the people who should be fighting for us !!

[The truth!]

Just how many members do you think are going to join a union run by militants?

Every cwu member with a brain .because we are getting shafted by the people who should be fighting for us !!

The law requires you to get over 50% of the total staff before an employee has to recognise a union for collective bargining purposes.

[goinpostal]

How feasible would this be?

A lot of work granted,but could it honestly be any worse?

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/mar20 ... -m16.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The union leadership is terrible, its true! The problem with the WSWS lot is they want us to write off all the unions and walk away without a fight. But that's not "socialist leadership". After all, if we don't have the courage and energy to mount a campaign to defeat the deal, have the fight in our branches, and ultimately replace the rotten Ward-Hayes leadership and present PEC, then how are we going to be able to establish another union?

The way to do that is by means of a rank and file movement. Workplace committees are great and shouldn't be shackled to CWU rules, but they should be the basis to develop such a movement and take back the union. Of course if the bureaucrats sabotaged such a movement, expelled it then it might be necessary. Wouldn't rule it out, the problem is the WSWS rule it in as the only option.

That's just one-sided and actually would end up splitting the union at this point. Many activists see that they can use the union structures that exist (as limited and not completely democratic as they are to be sure) to advance the workers interests, as the Cumbria, Bristol etc branches recommending a no vote shows. If we can use the structures to do this, why not extend the struggle to getting rid of the leadership, develop a new direction for the union, workplace organisation etc.

Walking out of the union points us the wrong way, straight out of the union without a fight, rather than fighting to reclaim it and throw out the bureaucrats.

[goinpostal]

It would take far too long to setup a new union, something is needed now not next year.

However, I'm sure the CWU leadership could be forced out far more easily with a vote of no confidence. We could then replace them with representatives who have the members best interests at heart and not thier own pockets now wouldn't that make a nice change

How does a vote of no confidence work?