Silver_Fox
New Member
Actually the NSSN did talk about international issues at its conference. More of a problem is that the conference was effectively an SP rally and shows no sign of becoming a real rank and file organisation. This was cemented to some degree at the founding conference where it was put in the constitution that the NSSN wouldn't interfere with what general secretaries did. Between conferences, and outside where the SP are active, the NSSN does almost nothing.
As for internationalism why have you got a problem with the TUC or unions devoting some of their time to international issues, and a tiny amount of their time at that? What is wrong with making international links?
For instance my union branch does international work. We raised over £2000 for Palestinian Medical Aid. Donations that were entirely collected as part of our union floor walking on shop floors. We are also planning to twin with union branches in South Africa and Palestine, twinning that will involve us sharing experiences, ideas of how to build the union and practical support. Now this is all a small part of what our branch does, much of which is focused on building link with the local community and re-building our branch.
Do you think that is a bad thing? That something is wrong with that? Far from the unions being too international, they're not international enough. My union hasn't spent any of its international budget on twinning because no branch, until us, has bothered to do any of it. The fact that international work is done is often reflective of active branches, not the other way round.
Lastly many workers in the UK are from all over the world and continue to have links to other countries. Should their concerns be entirely ignored?
PS Your you tube link is a bit ironic.............
