Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 October 2010 12:36:34
Today I was sorting through some paperwork and came across the copy of my mum's election address which she put together for the 2005/2006 Natfhe NEC elections the year before she passed away. As I read through I was struck by how her ideological perspective actually speaks for alot of ordinary people who are worried about the spending cuts and stuff at the moment. She explains why Trade Unions are important and why trade unionists should stand together in co-operation with other groups and stakeholders.
She wrote: "I believe that NATFHE still must not lose sight of any of the following specific ideals of members in all sectors of education:
Adequate funding adequately deployed,
Equality - for all members; whatever their current contract, terms or conditions, or personal circumstances,
Consistency - whether via national or local agreements, advisory frameworks, guidelines or the application and interpretation of legislation,
Co-operation -
Between education unions;
- With all other unions, for the benefit of the national workforce
- Between funding bodies, employers, unions, employees and volunteers in colleges, prisons and all educational settings."
This was not the rhetoric of somebody who wanted to keep the red flag flying; she was a Daily Mail reader, (although swore blind it was just because that "newspaper" had the best offers and quizzes in). I suspect up and down our land there are many more like her. Let's hope these "true trade unionists" are the dominant voices in the coming months and years. If they are we might actually stand half a chance.