The prospect of establishing a new political voice for the working class to challenge the continuity Tories of Keir Starmer’s New Labour party is now closer than ever!
On Thursday, 3rd July, the MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana, announced her resignation from the Labour Party and her intention to work with Jeremy Corbyn to help found a new party.
On Friday, 11th July, Unite, the largest union in the country, overwhelmingly passed an emergency motion, moved by a TUSC supporter, committing the union to reviewing its relationship with the Labour Party.
Trade unionists will be crucial in building a new party and shaping it to be not just for, but of, the working class. It is the unions, the already existing mass organisations of the working class, who possess the resources, mass membership, and social cohesion necessary to reach millions of people across all working-class communities and burst the Reform bubble.
Following the May elections this year, which saw gains everywhere for Reform, a number of senior trade unionists initiated this petition calling for the unions to take the lead in building a new working-class party. To date, the petition has been signed by 41 current and former members of trade union executive committees, as well as over 1,600 trade unionists who have signed online from all levels of our movement. Hundreds more have signed the paper petition circulated in union meetings.
Now, after Jeremy and Zarah's announcements, we need to discuss the next steps to be pursued in every union. A national Zoom meeting is scheduled for Monday, 21st July, at 6:30 pm to begin that process.
Hundreds have signed up, and you can register here to receive your link to the meeting.
A template to print out a paper version of the petition to use at meetings, demonstrations or for individual discussions with other trade unionists can be downloaded here
Help step up the work of building towards a new party rooted in the organisations and communities of the working class. Sign the petition, register for the meeting and let friends, family, workmates and trade union colleagues know about the campaign.
Please forward this update to any trade union activist you think might be interested.
Solidarity,
Dave Nellist