Use union time at work to politicise stewards

We see this as part of the national trade union campaign against the cuts and winning a better understanding of our policies among our stewards.

This conference is also an opportunity to promote the importance of local public services and campaign that we are likely lose these services through public-sector cuts.

We reject the nonsense that Con-Dem policies of austerity and privatisation reduce the public-sector financial deficit.

It is an attack on the working class, welfare state, wages, pensions and the public sector.

If tax evasion by big business and the super rich was tackled along with putting a stop to wasting our resources on foreign wars and nuclear weapons, we would be able to rebuild and expand our publc services.

Instead we're facing policies such as the bedroom tax, privatisation and cuts to services, attacks on sickness and disability benefits, and jobseeker sanctions.

To achieve such a transformation will require the utmost unity between the trade union movement, communities, anti-cuts campaigns and progressive politicians.

We need to build alliances in the workplaces and local communities through our trades unions and trade union councils.

As this is one of the first conferences of this type in Scotland, and maybe even in Britain, we suggest that other union branches in the public sector may want to consider pressing their management for time to hold such events which will assist in the political development of our shop floor activists.

Tom Morrison

Chair, West Dunbartonshire Unison Branch